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Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
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Infections in Patients with a Total Artificial Heart Are Common but Rarely Fatal

Luis F Hidalgo1, Keyur B Shah, Richard H Cooke

  • 1From the *Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York; †Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia; and ‡Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia.

ASAIO Journal (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs : 1992)
|March 21, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Total artificial heart (TAH) recipients experienced frequent infections, primarily urinary and respiratory tract infections. However, mortality directly linked to these infections was uncommon, with most patients undergoing heart transplantation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Total artificial heart (TAH) implantation is a critical intervention for end-stage heart failure.
  • Understanding infection risks and patterns in TAH recipients is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the incidence, sources, and pathogens of infections in patients receiving a TAH.
  • To evaluate the impact of infections on outcomes, including mortality and heart transplantation.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of patients who received a TAH at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) between 2010 and 2011.
  • Data extraction from the VCU Mechanical Circulatory Support Clinical Database and medical records.
  • Classification of infections as confirmed or suspected, with identification of sources and pathogens.

Main Results:

  • 32 patients received a TAH, with a mean support duration of 225 days.
  • 78% of patients developed infections, most commonly urinary tract (26), respiratory tract (18), and bloodstream (11).
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae, coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Enterococcus, and Enterobacter were the most frequent pathogens. Mortality directly attributable to infection was infrequent.

Conclusions:

  • Infections are highly prevalent in TAH recipients.
  • While common, infections in this cohort did not frequently lead to death, suggesting effective management strategies.
  • Further research into infection prevention and treatment in TAH patients is warranted.

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