[Reflections on external circulatory assistance. Apropos of 8 patients treated with the MEDOS system]

Mechanical circulatory support is required when cardiogenic shock is unresponsive to well conducted medical therapy. In this hemodynamic situation, when the patient's life is in danger, within hours, several questions should be answered quickly. These questions take into consideration the etiologies of cardiogenic shock and are related to the possibility of improvement of myocardial function, cardiac transplantation, the choice of uni- or biventricular support and surgical techniques of left ventricular assistance (left atrium to aorta or left ventricular apex to aorta). The follow-up of patients with circulatory support is complex. It requires to take into consideration hemodynamic, mechanical and hemobiological parameters as well as the peripheric organ function. We report in this article our clinical experience with eight patients that underwent circulatory support with Medos external ventricular assist device.