[Treatment of left ventricular failure following extracorporeal circulation using ventricular assistance with centrifugal pump].

We report the use of left ventricular assistance with a centrifugal pump in a patient with refractory left ventricular failure after aortic valve replacement. Assistance was maintained during the first 24 hours until the hemodynamic status allowed its withdrawal. The used flows ranged from 1.5 to 5 l/min, and there were no complications except hemorrhage (95 ml in 3 hours) that could be stopped without reoperation.