title: First Biventricular Jarvik 2000 Implants (Retroauricular Version) Via a Median Sternotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Organ shortages and increased numbers of nontransplant older patients have necessitated a search for alternatives to heart transplants. The Jarvik 2000 assist device (Jarvik Heart, Inc., Manhattan, NY, USA), as a small long-term axial flow pump, offers many advantages, such as retroauricular power supply, which minimizes driveline infection risks. When implanted biventricularly, the device may offer support for patients with biventricular heart failure, especially for nontransplant patients as a destination therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We implanted biventricular Jarvik 2000 systems into 3 men (aged, 65.3 ± 5.0 y; ejection fraction, 24.7% ± 1.5% for left ventricle and 17.7% ± 5.0% for right ventricle). These were the first patients worldwide to receive a biventricular Jarvik 2000 device with retroauricular power supply via a median sternotomy and with additional cardiac surgical procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No technical problems were noted during biventricular assist device implant. Mean support time on the device was 224 ± 198 days. All 3 patients showed sufficient cardiac support; 2 patients died from noncardiac complications. Patient 1 died on day 3 as a result of postoperative hepatic failure after preoperative reanimation, and patient 3 died as a result of an ileus and colon perforation after 50 days. Patient 2 died of ventricular fibrillation (after 1.5 y), which occurred 1 year after right ventricular pump shutdown, although significant improvement of right ventricle function was shown (ejection fraction increased by 48%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our 3 patients were old, had multiple comorbidities, and needed further cardiac surgery. None of the patients died as a result of technical failure of the device but because of complications accompanying their morbidities. If complication rates can be reduced, a biventricular assist device implant could and should be considered as a potential alternative for nontransplant patients.
authors: From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Clinic of Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Brenner
authors: Thomas J
authors: TJ
authors: Wirth
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Liebermann
authors: Maks
authors: M
authors: Mihalj
authors: Sonja
authors: S
authors: Güthoff
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Hagl
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Reichart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D015897:Comorbidity; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D056346:Sternotomy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right