Current status of temporary circulatory support

Circulatory support is a part of the surgical armamentarium in cardiac curgery. History shows that many systems to pump blood on a temporary basis have been tested. Criteria for implantation are clinical and hemodynamic. Contraindications for implantation are related to age, availability of organ donations, organ failure, vasoplegia, sepsis and persistent cardiogenic shock. Assist devices are classified according to the type of flow, body site implantation and source of energy. The choice of the device will be related to the system available, expected time of assist, organ donation, the ventricle to be assisted, need for anticoagulation and cost. Basic results are that 25-30% of assisted patients died before transplantation, that 35-40% died after transplantation, that 60-65% live after transplantation and that overall survival of assisted patients is 40-45%.