CARDIAC RECOVERY

The apparatus includes a flow control conduit (2) connectable with an output portion of the heart, preferably a bypassed portion of the aorta, and includes a means of feeding heart fluid (R/O), for example blood or cardioplegia into the heart. The flow control device (1) includes in communication a variable resistance pressure control means (4) which is variably biased to a closed position to maintain on the bypassed heart region a predetermined level of pressure, to facilitate the creation of back pressure during filling of the bypassed heart region or a beat or pumping phase of the heart, and when the heart fluid pressure increases to reach a predetermined threshold, the pressure control means facilitates a release of fluid from the conduit, thus facilitating expulsion of potential emboli from the bypassed heart region, and enabling "cycling" of the heart while in a bypassed condition, prior to the bypassed region being taken off bypass. The invention includes preferred and alternative embodiments of variable resistance pressure control means including a hollow deformable bladder (16) biased by a compressible control fluid externally of said bladder.