Total Artificial Heart Implantation as a Bridge to Transplantation in Slovakia

Although left ventricular assist device implantation represents the majority of durable mechanical circulatory support implants for patients with advanced heart failure, as many as 20 to 30% will subsequently have right heart failure requiring extended inotropic support or short-term mechanical circulatory support, and the total artificial heart is an established tool in the bridge to transplant armamentarium. The aim of this short report is to present our center's experience with the use of SynCardia total artificial heart. Between November 2017 and April 2021, 10 SynCardia total artificial heart devices were implanted. Of the 10 patients who underwent total artificial heart implantation, 6 (60%) were successfully bridged to transplant with a median time of 6.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 6-8) months, and 4 patients died on device support during the index hospitalization. The 30-day, 1-year, and 3-year survival rates after heart transplantation were the same at 66.7% (4/6). Despite the uncertain future of total artificial hearts, it remains a viable option for patients who require biventricular bridge to transplant or for a select subset of patients with advance heart failure who may not otherwise survive.