[Current status of use of the artificial heart in combination with heart transplantation]

Acute and therapeutically uncontrollable cardiac insufficiency in a case of chronic heart disease with acute risk of rejection and with a record of previous transplantation or during a heart operation should be considered as an indication for implantation of an artificial heart or a ventricle-supporting system, if a donor heart is not available. Two results are expected from such an approach, restoration of adequate circulation and improvement of organ functionally providing a chance for later transplantation. Attention should be given, according to the authors' own experience, to effective surgical haemostasis. Infections have quite often proved to be incurable after implantation of an artificial heart and, consequently, provide a clear-cut contraindication to implantation.