[Initial experience with the NOVACOR left heart assist system in transition for heart transplantation at the Grosshadern Clinic].

We recently used an electrically powered left ventricular assist device (NOVACOR Corp., Oakland, Calif.) to support the circulation of a 17-year-old man with profound circulatory impairment. He had been regularly listed for cardiac transplantation previously because of dilated cardiomyopathy, and decompensated acutely with severe biventricular failure before a suitable donor heart became available. Isolated left ventricular support with the NOVACOR system provided adequate haemodynamics and recovery of right ventricular, hepatic and renal function. After 2 days of support, orthotopic heart transplantation could be performed successfully. Five days after transplantation he developed a massive cerebral haemorrhage during a hypertensive crisis of which he recovered completely after neurosurgery without any residuals. He ist currently doing extremely well some 14 months after transplantation.