MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY ASSISTANCE WITH AN IMPLANTED NOVACOR DEVICE - POSTOPERATIVE FOLLOW-UP

The postoperative follow-up of 8 patients on the waiting list for card iac transplantation, with implanted left ventricular assist devices of the Novacor type, was marked by right ventricular failure in the firs t week, controlled by positive inotropic agents and the maintenance of high right ventricular preload. The outcome later on showed that an a mbulatory life was possible for 6 of the 8 patients, allowing the wait for cardiac transplantation under excellent conditions. Three major c omplications were observed : a case of aspergillosis endocarditis, one vertebrobasilar cerebrovascular accident and one low output state by progressive degradation of right ventricular function : after a period of circulatory assistance of 52 to 201 days, 6 out of the 8 patients underwent cardiac transplantation, 5 of which were successful.