Methods and results of mechanical myocardial support

In recent years the development of modern direct techniques for revascularization surgery has resulted in a multitude of critically ill patients undergoing open heart surgery. To deal with the increasing numbers of patients who both require urgent open heart surgery and present with many complicated patterns of disease, a spectrum of cardiac assist measures, ranging from simple pharmacological interventions to mechanical cardiac assist techniques, has been developed. Those temporary mechanical cardiac assist devices which employ the principle of couterpulsation and balloon pummping have met with the most consistent clinical success. We now report our experience and progress in this field since early 19729