Concepts in the application of pneumatic ventricular assist devices for ischemic myocardial injury

The clinical results of "bridge-to-recovery" from ischemic myocardial injury using pneumatic ventricular assist devices (VADs) have been disappointing, because no significant improvement in the hospital discharge rate (25%) has been observed during the past 10 years. Interestingly, similar results have been reported using the less sophisticated and more widely available centrifugal pumps. It is well recognized that appropriate patient selection and early device implantation are important determinants of patient survival; however, it is less clear why there is a lack of difference in the results between pneumatic VADs and the centrifugal pumps. The reasons for the lack of difference in the results between pneumatic VADs and centrifugal pumps are multifactorial, and to some extent may be due to a conservative approach in the application of the more capable pneumatic VADs. In an effort to provide a more effective approach to the clinical application of pneumatic VADs for bridge-to-recovery, two pneumatic devices (the Jarvik 7-70 total artificial heart and the Symbion acute VAD) were functionally characterized using an in vitro mock circulatory system. The performance under pneumatic VAD asynchronous pumping compared to electrocardiogram synchronous counterpulsation was also evaluated. Based upon the results obtained, a two phase approach was developed. In the initial phase (i.e., the first 12-48 hrs), device output is maximized through asynchronous pumping to rapidly reverse the effects of cardiogenic shock. During the second phase (i.e., after hemodynamic stabilization and early evidence of end-organ recovery), electrocardiogram synchronous counterpulsation is used to focus more specifically on recovery of the heart.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)