Does CircuLite Synergy assist device as partial ventricular support have a place in modern management of advanced heart failure?

The discrepancy between the number of patients on the waiting list and available donor hearts has led to the successful development of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) as a bridge to transplantation. The conventional LVADs are designed to provide full hemodynamic support for the end-stage failing heart. However, full-support LVAD implantation requires major surgery, sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass in majority of cases. The Synergy Micro-pump is the smallest implantable LVAD and provides partial flow support up to 3 l/min. It was shown that early intervention with this device can provide substantial benefits to patients with severe heart failure not yet sick enough for a full-support LVAD. Due the small dimensions it can be implanted without cardiopulmonary bypass or a sternotomy. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical use of the Synergy Micro-pump as partial hemodynamic support.