CardioWest total artificial heart: a retrospective controlled study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Devices
• Transplantation Surgery

Background:

• The CardioWest total artificial heart (TAH) is a pneumatic device designed to replace failing ventricles.
• It serves as a crucial bridge to heart transplantation for critically ill patients.
• The TAH is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used in select U.S. centers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and survival rates of the CardioWest TAH as a bridge to heart transplantation.
• To compare outcomes of patients bridged with the TAH versus those on the waiting list.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study comparing two groups of heart transplant candidates (Group A: received TAH, Group B: control).
• Patients in Group A (n=24) received the CardioWest TAH between January 1993 and July 1996.
• Group B (n=18) met TAH criteria but did not receive the device; preimplantation data including pulmonary vascular resistance, creatinine, and bilirubin were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The TAH group (Group A) achieved a 91.7% survival rate, with 22 of 24 patients transplanted and discharged.
• The control group (Group B) had a survival rate of 38.9%, with 7 of 18 transplanted patients surviving.
• A statistically significant difference (p = 0.0003) in survival was observed between the groups.

Conclusions:

• The CardioWest TAH is an effective and successful method for bridging patients to heart transplantation.
• It offers a viable option for patients with end-stage ventricular failure awaiting transplant.
• The study demonstrates a significant survival benefit for patients receiving the TAH compared to the control group.