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Updated: May 28, 2026

Use of Two Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Devices As a Total Artificial Heart
Published on: May 11, 2018
Long-term use of the CentriMag® Ventricular Assist System as a right ventricular assist device: a case report
K E Griffith1, E Jenkins, J Stulak
1Cardiovascular Center Perfusion Services, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. kegriff@med.umich.edu
Abstract:
Right ventricular failure (RVF) following implantation of a left ventricular assist system (LVAS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality.( 1-4 ) Numerous centers have reported short-term use of the CentriMag (®) Ventricular Assist System (CVAS) (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA) for treatment of cardiogenic shock, decompensated heart failure and right ventricular failure (RVF) following LVAS implantation.( 5-9 ) The present report reviews the clinical course of a patient requiring long-term right ventricular support utilizing the CVAS, following a HeartMate (®) II LVAS (Thoratec Corp. Pleasanton, CA) implantation. Elevated cytotoxic antibody levels complicated the patient's treatment plan by precluding orthotropic heart transplantation. The CVAS operated for 304 days without mechanical difficulty until replaced with the HeartWare (®) Ventricular Assist System (HeartWare Inc. Miramar, FL).
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