Peripheral arterial cannulation for Abiomed BVS 5000 left ventricular assist device support.

ABSTRACT

The Abiomed BVS 5000 is an external, pulsatile, ventricular assist device typically used for short-term mechanical support in post-cardiotomy patients experiencing cardiogenic shock when myocardial recovery is expected. We describe an as yet unreported approach where the left common femoral artery was utilized for Abiomed left ventricular assist device cannulation after reoperative mitral valve surgery.