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Case Reports

Extra-Aortic Implantable Counterpulsation Pump in Chronic Heart Failure

^a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
^b Department of Cardiology, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
^c Green Lane Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand

Accepted for publication December 14, 2007.

^_* Address correspondence to Dr Mitnovetski, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia (Email: smitnovetski{at}hotmail.com).

Extra-aortic counterpulsation for the management of chronic heart failure is a novel approach. We report the use of an extra-aortic implantable counterpulsation pump in the management of a 73-year-old patient with severe heart failure refractory to medical therapy. The implantable counterpulsation pump prolonged his life and greatly improved its quality. The patient lived almost 7 months after the implantation of the device and died of septic complications secondary to gas line infection.