EXPERIENCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS - PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE

Background. The data presented are a brief summary of The Internationa l Registry for Mechanical Ventricular Assist Pumps and Artificial Hear ts and a summary of the personal experience of the Minnesota Thoracic Associates at the Minneapolis Heart Institute with the use of the Sarn s centrifugal pump from May 1985 to September 1994. Methods. Ventricul ar support with the use of centrifugal pumps for postcardiotomy shock consisted of cannulation of the left atrium and aorta for left ventric ular support and the right atrium and pulmonary artery for right ventr icular support, or the combination of the two for biventricular suppor t. Results. The average survival and discharge rate recorded by the Na tional Registry for postcardiotomy syndrome was 25.3%. Our experience at Minnesota Thoracic Associates was 54%. The National Registry report ed 45.7% of the patients being weaned from the device or receiving tra nsplants and 25.3% of the patients ultimately discharged from the hosp ital. Sixty-five percent of the patients in our experience either were weaned from the device or received a transplant for an overall discha rge rate of 42%. The average effective hospital cost per survivor was almost $400,000.00. Conclusions. It is our belief that when considerin g the cost analysis of temporary devices, one must conclude that a mor e economical approach for the treatment of end-stage cardiac disease w ould be aggressive development of a permanent ventricular assist devic e.