Evolution of renal function after partial and full mechanical support for chronic heart failure.

Purpose: Recently a minimal invasive, partial support continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) became available for treatment of chronic heart failure. The aim of this study was to analyze whether partial support is capable of improving kidney function in end-stage heart failure.

Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of patients how received a full (n = 43) or partial support LVAD (n = 18) between 2007 and 2013.

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.

pH 48 h after onset of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is an independent predictor of survival in patients with respiratory failure.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving procedure in patients with severe respiratory failure, unresponsive to conventional therapy. We reviewed our series of 70 ECMO runs (April 1997 to December 2005) in patients with respiratory distress, refractory to standard ventilation. Survival at 90 days was 42.

Mechanical stress activates platelets at a subhemolysis level: an in vitro study.

A feasibility study is performed to quantify sheep platelets (PLTs) and to identify the relationship between PLT count and hemolysis as a consequence of mechanical stress. Six adult, healthy Dorset sheep have been used for in vitro blood sampling test procedures in a hemoresistometer device (HRM). In each experiment, blood of the same animal was exposed to six different shear rates.

Heparin influences human platelet behavior in cardiac surgery with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

The objective was to investigate whether the platelet dysfunction in cardiac surgery is caused by hemodilution or by shear stress due to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Platelet count and function were prospectively analyzed in two groups of patients undergoing cardiac surgery either with or without CPB (n = 40). In the first study (n = 20; 10 patients with and 10 without CPB), platelet counts were assessed at seven time points.

Design, development, and first in vivo results of an implantable ventricular assist device, MicroVad.

The design concept and first in vitro and in vivo results of a long-term implantable ventricular assist device system based on a microaxial blood pump are presented. The blood-immersed parts of the pump consist of a single-stage impeller and a proximally integrated microelectric motor. Both parts are surrounded by a pump housing currently made of polycarbonate to allow visible access to the blood-exposed parts.