[From circulatory support to artificial heart].
Various systems of mechanical circulatory support are now available: para-corporel devices, implantable ventricular assist devices, either portable or fully implantable. They allow treatment in a wide range of clinical indications, from untractable cardiac failure to cardiogenic shock. They are used in 3 different intention to treat: bridging to transplantation, bridging to recovery or definitive permanent implant. They are progressively becoming efficacious alternatives to cardiac transplantation. Their efficacy has reduced the actual need for a total artificial heart, which nevertheless keeps few indications. Various problems technological, clinical, economical and ethical have to be solved before a wide application of the method.
Loisance
Daniel
D
Service de Chirurgie Thoracique et Cardiovasculaire, CNRS UMR 7054-Association Claude Bernard, Hôpital Henri Mondor, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny-94010 Créteil. loisance@univ-paris12.fr
D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D006354:Heart, Artificial; D006801:Humans; D011474:Prosthesis Design