Management of acute cardiac failure with mechanical assist: experience with the ABIOMED BVS 5000

Background. Mechanical circulatory assist industries have developed ventricular assist devices (VAD) for short-, intermediate-, and long-term use. The purpose of this report is to describe the progress made with the ABIOMED Biventricular System (BVS) 5000 (ABIOMED, Inc, Danvers, MA) short-term VAD. Methods. From June 1994 through August 2000, all cardiogenic shock patients who required short-term mechanical assist were supported with the ABIOMED...