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Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
[Surgery in advanced heart failure]
1Abteilung für Thorax-, Herz- und Gefässchirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover. Haverich@thg.mh-hannover.de
Insights
Surgical options for chronic heart failure complement medical treatments, including organ-preserving procedures and heart transplantation. These surgical strategies aim to address the root causes of heart failure, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Medical therapy, including ACE inhibitors and beta blockers, has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure.
- Surgical interventions offer additional treatment modalities for heart failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current surgical strategies for heart failure treatment.
- To highlight advancements in organ-conserving techniques and heart replacement therapy.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of surgical approaches including left ventricular aneurysmectomy, mitral valve surgery, coronary artery bypass surgery, and electrostimulation.
- Comparison of organ-conserving techniques with heart replacement therapy, specifically cardiac transplantation.
Main Results:
- Significant progress has been made in organ-conserving surgical techniques for heart failure.
- Cardiac transplantation demonstrates a 10-year survival rate of 50%, remaining superior to current mechanical devices.
Conclusions:
- Surgical treatment for heart failure should be tailored to the underlying etiology and mechanisms.
- Indications and contraindications must be carefully considered for each patient.
- Cardiac transplantation remains the most effective heart replacement therapy currently available.
Background:
ACE inhibitors and beta blockers have reduced morbidity and mortality from chronic heart failure significantly during the last years. Apart from medical therapy several surgical strategies for the treatment of heart failure are available.
Prerequisites Of Surgical Treatment:
Surgical treatment should be directed towards the underlying etiology and mechanisms. To decide for a special surgical therapy indications and contraindications must be considered.
Surgical Procedures:
The surgical therapy of heart failure can be performed with or without replacement of the heart. Especially concerning the organ-conserving techniques there has been significant progress during the last years: left ventricular aneurysmectomy, mitral valve surgery as well as high-risk coronary artery bypass surgery and electrostimulating procedures. Concerning heart replacement therapy, cardiac transplantation with a 10-year survival of 50% still remains superior to all available mechanical devices at the moment.
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