Revista de medicina de la Universidad de Navarra
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Rev Med Univ Navarra · Apr 2003
[Right heart support during coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass].
Exposure of lateral and inferior coronary vessels during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting may cause significant hemodynamic compromise due to right ventricular compression when tilting the heart. Some new right ventricular assistance devices have been developed in order to avoid this problem but only a few series have been published. A preliminary experience with a right heart circulatory support system is reported. ⋯ The use of right heart support devices is a simple and low risk procedure which may facilitate surgical anastomoses on lateral and inferior epicardial vessels during off-pump coronary artery surgery.