Total artificial heart implantation as a bridge to transplantation: a viable model for the future?

Total artificial heart implantation as a bridge to transplantation: a viable model for the future? Expert Rev Med Devices. 2018 Sep 17;: Authors: Beaupré RA, Frazier OH, Morgan JA Abstract INTRODUCTION: Since the first total artificial heart (TAH) implant in a human patient in 1969, over 1300 devices have been implanted worldwide. Greater numbers of patients are receiving TAHs with an increased length of durable support and for indications beyond biventricular failure including allograft failure, severe restrictive or infiltrative disease, and complex congenital anomalies. Areas Covered: The role of the TAH in biventricular failure and its favorable rates of successful bridge-to-transplant (BTT) and survival compared to the biventricular assist device (BiVAD) are discussed and the differences between the TAH and LVAD patient population are highlighted. The device's niche role for patients with physiologies not amenable to single ventricle support is further described and elucidated. In addition, new developments such as the 50cc Syncardia and upcoming devices with continuous flow mechanisms (BiVACOR and the Cleveland Clinic CF-TAH) and composed of bioprosthetic materials (CARMAT) are discussed. Literature review was conducted utilizing the PubMed database selecting published research, database analyses, and poignant case reports under 'total artificial heart' relevant to the paper's aims as delineated above. Expert Commentary: TAH p...
Source: Expert Review of Medical Devices - Category: Medical Devices Tags: Expert Rev Med Devices Source Type: research