BIVENTRICULAR BYPASS WITH OXYGENATION FOR POSTCARDIOTOMY VENTRICULAR FAILURE

Between January 1984 and March 1995, biventricular bypass (BVB) with o xygenation was used in 17 patients for postcardiotomy ventricular fail ure 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 fr om the end of cardiopulmonary bypass to the start of BVB was significa ntly shorter in weaned patients than in unweaned patients. The duratio n 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 fa ilure 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 postcardioto my ventricular failure.