The total artificial heart--a bridge to transplantation.
Many heart centers are utilizing the total artificial heart for a bridging technique to transplantation, particularly in patients with bi-ventricular failure or irreversible left ventricular failure, where a donor heart is not readily available.  This discussion includes the training procedure, operation and management of Canada's first total artificial heart performed on May 1, 1986.
Broecker
L
L
University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada.
Zombolas
T
T
Keon
W J
WJ
Asselin
M
M
D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006354:Heart, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left