Temporary Use of the Jarvik-7 Total Artificial Heart before Transplantation

Abstract

Between October 24, 1985, and July 31, 1986, the Jarvik-7 total artificial heart was implanted into six moribund patients in an attempt to test its potential as a bridge from almost certain death to cardiac transplantation. Four of these patients are now well and at home after implantation of the device and subsequent cardiac transplantation. Before transplantation, one patient died with sepsis and multiorgan failure that preceded implantation of the artificial heart. Another patient died with acute rejection 60 days after cardiac transplantation. Fiftytwo days of total mechanical support with the artificial heart were accumulated in these six patients, and although the device worked flawlessly and no clinically apparent thromboembolic events occurred, each artificial heart contained areas of macroscopic aggregations of platelets and thrombi.