Circulation control of experimental and clinical profound left ventricular failures by automatic left ventricular assist system

It is desirable that circulation control of the patient using a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) should be achieved appropriately and safely. We have developed an automatic LVAD system, which can maintain the normal circulation irrespective of the severity of heart failure and can restore the failing heart by decreasing the bypass flow (BF) through the LVAD as the heart recovers. The main part of the control-drive unit is an automatic level control (ALC) system for left atrial pressure (LAP) and total flow (TF). Profound left ventricular failure (LVF) was made by complete interception of blood supply to the extent of 50% (5 goats) and 70% (5 goats) of the LV free wall. The air-driven diaphragm-type LVAD was implanted between LA and aorta. At the beginning of LVAD pumping, BF tended to be very high to keep LAP at the preset level (0-5 mmHg) and to maintain TF at somewhat higher level (120-140 ml/kg/min). The recovering heart was able to decrease LAP gradually. Since the LAP was set at a certain level, the ALC of LAP decreased BF to maintain LAP at the preset level. During the recovering stage from LVF, preset level of LAP was gradually raised while checking the pulmonary function. When natural heart output exceeded 100 ml/kg/min, LVAD was removed. The 50% LVF group recovered between 17 hours and 3 days, and 70% LVF group between 6th and 16th postoperative day. This LVAD system was then applied to the postoperative profound LVF in a MVR patient whose entire circulation was maintained normal during 14 day pumping. The failed heart gradually recovered and the pump was successfully removed. We consider that the decompression of LV will prevent overextension of impaired myocardium and simultaneously accelerate the solid scar formation. And gradual increase of LV work will promote the compensation ability of the residual myocardium. Continuous LVAD assistance can therefore earn time for the impaired myocardium to recover while maintaining normal circulation.