title: Results of mechanical circulatory support in France.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the analyzed results on mechanical circulatory support (MCS) collected over a 7-year period, from 2000 to 2006, in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 520 patients was analyzed. Mean age was 43.7 ± 13.6 years. The main causes of cardiac failure were ischemic cardiomyopathy (39%), idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (41.3%), or myocarditis (6.4%). Bridge to transplantation was indicated in 87.8% of patients, bridge to recovery in 9%, while destination therapy was proposed in 3.2% of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For patients in cardiogenic shock or advanced heart failure undergoing device implantation as bridge to transplantation or recovery (n=458), overall mortality was 39% (n=179). The main causes of mortality under MCS were multi-organ failure (MOF) (57.4%), neurological events (14.1%), or infections (11.9%). Heart transplantation was performed in 249 (54.3%) patients. The main causes of death following heart transplantation were primary graft failure (22.4%), MOF (14.3%), neurological event (14.3%), or infection (10.2%). Long-term survival in transplanted patients was 75 ± 2.8% at 1 year and 66 ± 3.4% at 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MCS is an essential therapeutic tool to save the life of young patients with cardiogenic shock or advanced cardiac failure. Early MCS implantation and the availability of a device that is adapted to the patient's clinical status are prerequisites for reducing overall mortality rates.
authors: Department of Heart Surgery, Service de chirurgie cardiaque, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, 67000 Strasbourg, France. jean-philippe.mazzucotelli@chru-strasbourg.fr
authors: Jean-Philippe
authors: JP
authors: Mazzucotelli
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Leprince
authors: Pierre-Yves
authors: PY
authors: Litzler
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Vincentelli
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Le Guyader
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Kirsch
authors: Lionel
authors: L
authors: Camilleri
authors: Erwan
authors: E
authors: Flecher