Total artificial heart: from bridge to transplantation to permanent use.
BACKGROUND
Pneumatic artificial hearts have played an important role in supporting the circulation in patients before cardiac transplantation. Pneumatic hearts have also been used for permanent cardiac replacement, but most agree they have serious limitations.


METHODS
Several groups are now developing electric artificial hearts in which electrical energy crosses the skin using a wireless technique. The electrical energy powers a small direct-current motor, which actuates the blood pump.


RESULTS
Important progress in these devices has resulted in animal survival with electric hearts of more than 1 year.


CONCLUSIONS
Extensive bench testing and animal testing will be performed before the initial clinical use of these devices will be initiated. One of the early scientific achievements of the 21st century will be the initial use of the electric artificial heart in humans.
Pierce
W S
WS
Department of Surgery, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey 17033-0850, USA.
Sapirstein
J S
JS
Pae
W E
WE
D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006354:Heart, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans