title: Use of minimal extracorporeal circulation circuit for left ventricular assist device implantation.
abstract: We describe successful use of a minimal extracorporeal circulation circuit (MECC) as an alternative to conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for the implantation of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in a 65-year-old patient with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. A Jarvik 2000 was implanted through a median sternotomy with the outflow graft anastomosed to the ascending aorta. MECC circuit provides optimal circulatory support throughout the procedure and prevents hemodynamic instability caused by marked displacement of the heart for exposure of the left ventricular apex, while minimizing the adverse effects of conventional CPB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anastasiadis
authors.forename: Polychronis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antonitsis
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Argiriadou
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khayat
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papakonstantinou
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Westaby
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000601:surgery; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation / Q000379:methods*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*