From June 1989 to July 1992, we used centrifugal Biomedicus pump (CBP) in 20 patients. In 9 cases, CBP was used as ventricular assistance after heart surgery for those who could not be weaned off bypass even with intra-aortic balloon
counter-pulsation
and with maximal inotropic support. In 8 patients, CBP was used as partial left heart bypass during repair of aortic aneurysms or congenital aortic anomalies. And in 3 patients, CBP was used as vena caval bypass during resection of renal cell
carcinoma
with tumor extension into the inferior vena cava.
In 2 of 9 patients with ventricular assistance, they were weaned off the device successfully after 16 hours and 7 days respectively. But the patients died of intracranial hemorrhage and sepsis, 7 and 29 days after weaning from cardiac support,
respectively.
In all the patients who underwent aortic of vena caval surgery using CBP as shunt, there were no complications such as postoperative bleeding necessitating reoperation, renal failure or neurologic sequelae.
In conclusion, the centrifugal type of ventricular assistance may be potentially life saving treatment modality in patients with severe postoperative low cardiac output syndrome. The CBP can be safely employed for resection of renal cell
carcinoma
with
vena caval tumor extension and for repair of aortic aneurysms.
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