Current strategy of temporary circulatory support for severe cardiac failure after operation

Background. After open heart operations about 1% of patients still need temporary circulatory support for severe cardiac failure, and over half of those patients die during or after the support. This study assessed the efficacy of the current strategy of circulatory support. Methods. We assessed clinical outcome of 64 consecutive patients (1.5% of pump cases) who had temporary circulatory support associated with perioperative variables. The results were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results. The weaning and discharge rates were 50.0% and 26.7% with venoarterial bypass, 76.2% and 57.1% with biventricular bypass, 87.5% and 37.5% with isolated left ventricular bypass, and 60.0% and 40.0% with pulsatile left ventricular assistance, respectively. Logistic regression analysis identified presupport cardiogenic shock (odds ratio, 9.922) and support type (14.684) as factors significantly associated with nonweaning from the temporary support, and cardiogenic shock (28.268), support duration (2.948), and support type (14.184) as factors significantly associated with mortality during or after the circulatory support. Conclusions, The current strategy of temporary circulatory support improved clinical outcome of patients with severe cardiac failure. Early application of circulatory support before profound cardiogenic shock and proper selection of the support type might be key factors for successful circulatory support postoperatively after operation. (C) 1999 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.