title: [Cardiac prosthesis].
abstract: It has been demonstrated an intrathoracic artificial heart with membrane pump delivering a pulsed flow and connected with an extracorporeal source of energy can keep a cardiotomized animal alive for several months without biological organic disturbances. The next experimental step would be intrathoracic implantation in man of a similar heart with an energy converter connected to an extracorporeal source giving the patient a 6-8 hour period of autonomy. At rest or during the night the batteries attached to the patient's waist would easily be recharged. Current research concentrates on reduction of artificial heart volume and miniaturization of the energy converter and regulatory electronic circuits. Kinetic pumps, which are small and without valvular prosthesis facilitate miniaturization. They deliver a high-speed continuous flow and have not yet been shown in long-term experiments to be free from biological disturbances. The clinical phase of stage II artificial hearts, due to begin in 1990, will be preceded by attempts at implanting hearts animated by an extracorporeal source of energy, pending cardiac replacement.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001775:Blood Circulation; D002417:Cattle; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006354:Heart, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008904:Miniaturization; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology
vernacular_title: Les prothèses cardiaques.