[Mechanical circulatory support. 2: Ventricular assist systems].

In cardiac surgery, ventricular assist devices for mechanical circulatory support are implanted for short or mid-term use in patients with therapy refractory postoperative low-output-syndrome to overtake the function of the left, right or of both ventricles until recovery of myocardium can be achieved. In the long-term, these systems are in use as a bridge to transplantation. An increasing number of clinical reports clearly demonstrates that ventricular assist devices can guarantee in a relatively high percentage of patients with postoperative low-output-syndrome a sufficient regeneration of the cardiac function with satisfactory functional and hemodynamic long-term results. Furthermore, a high percentage of patients bridged to transplantation can be successfully transplanted with good clinical outcome and survival rates.