Pediatric heart support with a newly developed catheter based pulsatile 12F rotary blood pump: an animal study.

Background: To evaluate mechanical and hematological compatibility of a pediatric, temporary left heart support system in a lamb model as a less traumatic alternative to the widely used ECMO.

Methods: A small, pulsatile rotary blood pump (target flow 0.5l/m at 80 mm Hg pressure head at 120 pulses per min) was inserted in six lambs (15.