In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of positioning in a mammalian heart of a patient a blood pump including an inflow cannula, a pump housing and an outflow cannula, the method including forming an incision in a low-pressure location on the heart wall； passing the outflow cannula of the blood pump through the incision and into a left ventricle of a heart； positioning a tip of a guidewire into an aorta, distal to an aortic valve； advancing the tip through the aortic valve and into the left ventricle； connecting the tip to the outflow cannula； pulling the blood pump with the guidewire to advance at least a portion of the outflow cannula through the aortic valve and into the aorta； securing the blood pump to the heart, the aorta, or both； disconnecting the tip from the blood pump； and removing the guidewire from the patient.
