Levitronix

BACKGROUND: Short-term mechanical circulatory support may be lifesaving in patients with right ventricular (RV) failure related to post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS), cardiac transplantation (CTx), and long-term therapy with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). This study evaluates our clinical experience using the CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, Mass) system for temporary mechanical RV support. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 29 patients (mean age, 57 +/- 14 years) in whom the CentriMag system was used for RV support from September 2005 to March 2008...

Levitronix CentriMag is a third generation bearingless temporary rotary pump designed for short-term mechanical support. The device, combined with Berlin Heart cannulas, was implanted in 30 patients suffering from acute cardiogenic shock with biventricular failure. Fifteen patients were successfully bridged to long-term Excor support due to lack of myocardial recovery. The approach produces good results, avoiding the risks of repeated sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass and reducing the costs involved.

We report on two patients who experienced life-threatening thromboembolic complications during prolonged weaning from Levitronix CentriMag right ventricular assist device support. Right ventricular assist device flow in both patients was reduced below 2 L/min for a period of 72 or 36 h to closely monitor patients' hemodynamics and echocardiography because the extent of right ventricular recovery was difficult to assess. Thrombus formation occurred despite adjusting the heparin dosage to achieve partial prothrombin time values between 60 and 70 s...

OBJECTIVE: Optimum strategy for salvage in patients with acutely decompensated end-stage heart failure and severe multiorgan dysfunction is complex. We present our experience with prolonged CentriMag (Levitronix, Waltham, Mass) support for transitioning patients after successful salvage from bridge to decision directly to transplant. METHODS: Records of patients who underwent salvage with a CentriMag as bridge to decision and later to transplant were reviewed. Between June 2003 and June 2008, 4 patients in cardiogenic shock from acute decompensated end-stage heart failure and multiorgan dysfunction underwent salvage with biventricular CentriMag as bridge to decision...

BACKGROUND: Ventricular assist devices are effective in severe end-stage cardiac failure but outcomes remain poor in critically ill patients. Cheaper and less invasive short-term devices have been used in this setting. We report our experience with the Levitronix CentriMag short-term ventricular assist device as a potential bridge prior to deciding whether a more expensive device should be used or whether transplantation should be undertaken. METHODS: Since August 2003, 16 moribund patients (14 males; age 32...

OBJECTIVES: The Levitronix CentriMag ventricular assist device (VAD) is a centrifugal pump designed for short-term extracorporeal support in cardiogenic shock. The aim of this study is to report our clinical experience with the Levitronix CentriMag for uni- and biventricular support. METHODS: Between July 2004 and December 2006, 27 patients were supported using the Levitronix CentriMag device. Nineteen were male. Mean age was 47.9 (range 19 to 72) years. Indications for support at implantation were cardiogenic shock that included: end-stage heart failure and too ill to undergo transplantation, with questionable neurologic status (9 subjects); right ventricular failure after left VAD (LVAD) implantation (5 subjects); post-cardiotomy status (7 subjects); and acute donor graft failure after heart transplantation (6 subjects)...

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of children are requiring circulatory support. Hospitals offering pediatric Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) should have devices of different sizes available to cover the full range of patient sizes incurring considerable expense. As in adults, post-operative bleeding often complicates VAD implantation. The use of a Levitronix Centrimag centrifugal pump, connected to Berlin Heart Excor cannulae, seems an attractive and logic combination, both in terms of patient safety and of hospital economics...

OBJECTIVE: Patients with refractory acute cardiogenic shock and multisystem organ failure have a poor outcome with implantation of permanent ventricular assist devices. We review our experience with the use of the CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, Mass) circulatory support system in such patients whose neurologic status was uncertain. METHODS: From January 2004 to June 2006, 30 patients underwent CentriMag circulatory support system placement at the University of Minnesota...

BACKGROUND: Primary graft failure after heart transplantation is a well-recognized catastrophic complication with a high mortality rate. It is becoming more frequent due to the increasing use of marginal donors. In these difficult cases a ventricular assist device (VAD) as a bridge to recovery or as a bridge to re-transplantation can be used. The recently introduced Levitronix Centrimag centrifugal pump might be an ideal device for this purpose. METHODS: In this study we describe 2 patients with primary graft failure who received a Levitronix in the last 2 years, immediately after failure to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass...

BACKGROUND: The Levitronix ventricular assist device (VAD) is a centrifugal pump designed for extracorporeal support and that operates without mechanical bearings or seals. The rotor is magnetically levitated so that rotation is achieved without friction or wear, which seems to minimize blood trauma and mechanical failure. The aim of this study is to report our early results with the Levitronix Centrimag device. METHODS: Between June 2003 and April 2005, 18 patients (pts) were supported using the Levitronix at our institution...