Received 19 August 2005; accepted 20 October 2005.
Although heart transplantation remains the gold standard for patients who remain in advanced heart failure despite optimal medical therapy, limited donor supplies allows for just >2000 transplant each year in the United States. Recent enthusiasm has developed for the role of mechanical circulatory support for this ever-growing population of sick patients. Although much attention has been directed toward ventricular assist devices, less information is available regarding the role of the total artificial heart. Indeed, efforts in this latter technology have allowed the relatively recent deployment of a variety of complete circulatory assist devices. The purpose of this article is to review the historical development, current use, and future role of total artificial hearts.
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Reprint requests: Craig H. Selzman, MD, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, 354 Wing C, CB #7065, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.
ABSTRACT