[The centrifugal pump--a new method of assisting the failing heart following open heart surgery].

The centrifugal pump is a new mechanical ventricular assistant device, which is used to help the failing heart after cardiopulmonary bypass or postoperatively in the ICU. The centrifugal pump is hemodynamically able to improve the coronary and peripheral perfusion in patients in cardiogenic shock. The pump can displace the entire cardiac output and let the blood bypass the left ventricle, which gives the failing heart a possibility for metabolic correction and regeneration. Ten patients were included in the early personal experience at the cardio-thoracic unit in Edinburgh, with a survival rate of 50%, which is regarded as being very satisfactory. All hemodynamic parameters were normalised in the surviving patients.