Biventricular bypass with oxygenation for postcardiotomy ventricular failure

Between January 1984 and March 1995, biventricular bypass (BVB) with oxygenation was used in 17 patients for postcardiotomy ventricular failure at the Heart Institute of Japan, Tokyo Women's Medical College. Of the 17 patients, 12 (70.6%) were weaned from the circulatory support, and 8 (47.1%) were discharged from the hospital. The time interval from the endo of cardiopulmonary bypass to the start of BVB was significantly shorter in weaned patients than in unweaned patients. The duration on support also has been shortened significantly in the last 6 years, compared with the earlier 6 years. Causes of death were severe heart failure or ventricular arrhythmia in 6 patients and multiple organ failure in 3 patients. These results suggest that early application and timely weaning from biventricular bypass with oxygenation might be the effective circulatory support of choice for treatment of postcardiotomy ventricular failure.