Instant shift from continuous flow assistance to paracorporeal diaphragm type pulsatile assistance.

Experiments were conducted implementing a special technique for shifting instantaneously from continuous flow to pulsatile flow assistance by using the assistant heart and obtaining the following results: Within only a few minutes, the shift could easily be made from one type of flow assistance to another on calves with normal hearts. In the 10 calves in which ventricular failure was produced, this instantaneous shift from continuous to pulsatile flow assistance brought about remarkable improvements in their hemodynamics. At the occurrence ventricular fibrillation in 6 of the calves, the return to sinus rhythm was possible with aid of this shift mechanism.