Title:Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support: Left, Right, and Biventricular
Devices
Volume: 19
Issue: 5
Author(s): Michael Dangl, Michael Albosta, Hoda Butros and Matthias Loebe*
Affiliation:
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Miami
Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
Keywords:
Heart failure, mechanical circulatory support, cardiogenic shock, left ventricular assist device, intra-aortic balloon pump, ECMO, impella.
Abstract: Temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) encompasses a wide array of invasive
devices, which provide short-term hemodynamic support for multiple clinical indications. Although
initially developed for the management of cardiogenic shock, indications for MCS have expanded
to include prophylactic insertion prior to high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention,
treatment of acute circulatory failure following cardiac surgery, and bridging of end-stage heart
failure patients to more definitive therapies, such as left ventricular assist devices and cardiac
transplantation. A wide variety of devices are available to provide left ventricular, right ventricular,
or biventricular support. The choice of a temporary MCS device requires consideration of the clinical
scenario, patient characteristics, institution protocols, and provider familiarity and training. In
this review, the most common forms of left, right, and biventricular temporary MCS are discussed,
along with their indications, contraindications, complications, cannulations, hemodynamic effects,
and available clinical data.