In vivo testing of a pulsatile implantable impeller pump as a left ventricular assist device used in calves.

A pulsatile implantable impeller pump was tested as a left ventricular assist device in five calves. The experiments lasted for 4-11 days. Death or termination was mainly due to respiratory complications or bleeding, irrelevant to the pump itself. As indicators of haemolysis, thrombogenesis, renal and hepatic functions, free haemoglobin (FHb), haematocrit (Hct), platelet number (Plt), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and total bilirubin were measured preoperatively, at the beginning of the pumping (pump on), six hours later and every day thereafter. The data indicated that the pump caused no severe blood damage or organ dysfunction. Thus, the feasibility of a pulsatile centrifugal pump was demonstrated. The pump with its driver weighs 110 g and is capable of delivering a blood flow up to 8 l/min against 100 mmHg mean pressure.