Successful use of the centrifugal ventricular assist device for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock.

A centrifugal pump was successfully used as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in a 54-year-old female who developed cardiogenic shock following open heart surgery. Cardiac index prior to the LVAD support was 1.4 l/min/m2 and increased to 3.0 l/min/m2 at removal of the device, which assisted for 88h. She resumed her daily activity 10 months after the operation and is in New York Heart Association functional class I.