Isolated left ventricular assist as bridge to cardiac transplantation

The electrically driven Novacor implantable left ventricular assist device has been implanted in six patients (four men and two women) since Sept. 7, 1984. In four of the six patients (67%) the device was a successful bridge to cardiac transplantation. One patient died of multiple organ failure and Candida sepsis after 16 days of support with the device. One patient died in the operating room of uncontrollable hemorrhage and biventricular failure caused by severe cardiac rejection. Three patients are alive with cardiac transplants 38, 17, and 10 months after transplantation. One patient died after cardiac transplantation of presumed sepsis. The Novacor left ventricular assist device performed in all cases without mechanical or electrical failure. Excluding the intraoperative death, assist duration ranged from 2 to 16 days. The cardiac index (synonymous with device output) ranged from 2.4 to 3.4 L/min/m2. No embolic events (cerebrovascular or systemic) occurred during assistance with the device. Minimal red cell hemolysis was documented during the period of support. The Novacor left ventricular assist device is a safe and effective bridge to cardiac transplantation in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock.