Physiology

Learning Bite

Remember, there is often no palpable pulse

• The rotor pump imparts kinetic energy to the blood driving it through the device and into the aorta via the outflow graft
• This provides a continuous flow throughout the cardiac cycle
• This flow is afterload sensitive
• (Near) completely offloads the left ventricle ejection
• Flow is dependent on LV filling, itself dependent on volume status, right ventricular function and pulmonary vascular resistance