Off-pump replacement of the INCOR implantable axial-flow pump.

Owing to the actual increase of mechanical circulatory support durations, total or partial replacement of ventricular assist devices (VADs) will most certainly have to be performed with increasing frequency. Herein we report the case of a patient in whom an INCOR (Berlin Heart AG, Berlin) implantable axial-flow pump was replaced without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), underscoring some of the unique features provided by this system.

Isoflurane, 0.5 minimum alveolar concentration administered through the precardiopulmonary bypass period, reduces postoperative dobutamine requirements of cardiac surgery patients: a randomized study.

Objective: Cardioprotective properties have been shown with halogenated volatile agents. It was hypothesized that low-dose isoflurane administered before aortic cross-clamping may reduce the amount of dobutamine required to improve impaired postoperative cardiac function after various types of cardiac surgery.

Design: A prospective, randomized trial.