Temporary mechanical circulatory support may be indicated in some patients with cardiac failure refractory to conventional therapy, as a bridge to myocardial recovery or transplantation.
Service de chirurgie thoracique et cardiovasculaire, hôpital Henri-Mondor, AP-HP, 51, avenue du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 94000 Créteil cedex, France. matthias.kirsch@hmn.aphp.fr