Saphenous vein graft flow during left ventricular assistance with an axial-flow pump.
The effects of continuous-flow support on bypass graft flow have not been quantified clinically. Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices unload the left ventricle throughout the cardiac cycle, which narrows pulse pressure and converts passive left ventricular filling during diastole to active flow throughout the cardiac cycle. We report the case of a 63-year-old man with severe congestive heart failure who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and was supported with an axial-flow pump. In this patient, saphenous vein graft flow during left ventricular assistance provided adequate coronary perfusion.
Forrester
Matthew D
MD
Cardiopulmonary Transplant Service and Cardiovascular Surgical Research Laboratories, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. knowlin@heart.thi.tmc.edu
Myers
Timothy J
TJ
Gregoric
Igor D
ID
Frazier
O H
OH
D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000503:physiopathology*