[Technic for implanting biventricular external assistance devices. Pending cardiac transplantation]

The extensive development of orthotopic heart transplantation results in a relative shortage of grafts. When cardiac grafts are unavailable, some patients at the end-stage of decompensated heart failure may benefit from a biventricular external circulatory assistance device as a "bridge" to transplantation. We describe a reproducible technique for the implantation of such external devices, based on the systematic use of extracorporeal circulation. This technique was tested in 8 patients. Its main advantage is that it prevents thromboembolic complications which are a constant threat when the devices are used for a prolonged period.