Evaluation of the optimal driving mode during left ventricular assist withpulsatile catheter pump in calves

The pulsatile catheter (PUCA) pump, a left ventricular assist device, was t ested during acute experiments in calves using asynchronous and EGG-synchro nous assist modes. The aim of the study is to compare ECG-synchronous and a synchronous assist and to find the optimal driving mode for the PUCA pump w ith respect to left ventricular myocardial oxygen consumption (LV MVO2), pu mp flow, and coronary flow. LV MVO2 decreased significantly during the asyn chronous (from 7.77 to 6.46 ml/ min/100 g) as well as during the EGG-synchr onous mode (from 8.88 to 7.84 ml/min/100 g). The pump flow was highest duri ng the: EGG-synchronous assist (2.94 L/min), followed by the asynchronous a ssist (2.79 L/min). The peak coronary flow depended strongly on pump ejecti on timing and showed the best flow patterns during the ECG-synchronous assi st. We concluded that for PUCA pump support both asynchronous and EGG-synch ronous assists significantly reduce LV MVO2 and that the pump flow generate d is; enough to maintain the systemic circulation. However, we find the EGG -synchronous mode preferable because this mode optimizes coronary flow patt erns at the same time.