Mechanical Support After Cardiac Surgery

The need for mechanical circulatory support after car diac surgery is uncommon despite an older and increas ingly sicker patient population. From September 1992 through January 1997, surgeons performed 21,000 car diac operations at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and mechanical support postcardiotomy was required in only 75 patients (0.3%). Aggressive management of cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction usually results in successful weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. How ever, when mechanical support is needed, it can tax the resources of the institution and requires integrated patient management from the entire health care team. Management of postcardiotomy circulatory failure will be discussed in detail, along with the devices commer cially available for both short-and long-term support. Copyrighr