Current status of the total artificial heart.
Although heart transplantation remains the gold standard for patients who remain in advanced heart failure despite optimal medical therapy, limited donor supplies allows for just >2000 transplant each year in the United States. Recent enthusiasm has developed for the role of mechanical circulatory support for this ever-growing population of sick patients. Although much attention has been directed toward ventricular assist devices, less information is available regarding the role of the total artificial heart. Indeed, efforts in this latter technology have allowed the relatively recent deployment of a variety of complete circulatory assist devices. The purpose of this article is to review the historical development, current use, and future role of total artificial hearts.
Gray
Norman A
NA
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Selzman
Craig H
CH
D017281:Cost of Illness; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D006354:Heart, Artificial / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*