Biventricular support using implantable continuous-flow ventricular assist devices

A 34-year-old woman with fulminant myocarditis underwent emergent implant with the Toyobo (Nipro, Osaka, Japan) paracorporeal biventricular assist device (BiVAD). The patient had been stable for 6 months, until she started to develop heart failure symptoms due to severe pulmonary insufficiency. Pulmonary valve closure and BiVAD conversion to implantable rotary pumps was performed. A DuraHeart centrifugal pump (Terumo Heart Inc, Ann Arbor, MI) was used for left ventricular assist, and a Jarvik 2000 axial-flow pump (Jarvik Heart Inc, New York, NY) was used for right ventricular assist. Although strict management was required to balance the flow rates of the 2 different types of devices, her postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged home.