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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Successful heart transplant after 1374 days living with a total artificial heart
Gino Gerosa1, Michele Gallo2, Tomaso Bottio2
1Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy gino.gerosa@unipd.it.
Insights
The CardioWest Total Artificial Heart (CW-TAH) offers long-term support for biventricular failure. This case study demonstrates its potential as destination therapy, achieving over 1300 days of out-of-hospital survival.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Medical Devices
- Heart Failure Management
Background:
- The CardioWest Total Artificial Heart (CW-TAH) is FDA-approved for bridge-to-transplant.
- Its use for destination therapy in biventricular failure is under investigation.
- Long-term outcomes for CW-TAH as destination therapy are crucial.
Observation:
- A patient with biventricular failure was supported by the CardioWest Total Artificial Heart (CW-TAH).
- This patient achieved the longest reported worldwide out-of-hospital survival of 1374 days.
- The device provided continuous hemodynamic support.
Findings:
- The CW-TAH can facilitate long-term survival in patients with end-stage heart failure.
- This case represents a significant duration of support outside a hospital setting.
- The device's performance supports its potential for destination therapy.
Implications:
- This case provides a proof of concept for CW-TAH as destination therapy.
- Extended survival with CW-TAH may redefine treatment options for biventricular failure.
- Further investigation into CW-TAH for destination therapy is warranted.
Abstract:
The CardioWest Total Artificial Heart (CW-TAH) has been approved as a temporary device for bridge to cardiac transplantation and is under investigation for destination therapy by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We herein report the longest worldwide survival out of hospital (1374 days) of a patient supported with Cardio West Total Artificial Heart (CW-TAH). This experience is intended as a proof of concept of using CW-TAH as the destination therapy in patients with biventricular failure.
