Key result
The AbioCor totally implantable replacement heart was implanted in 7 critically ill patients with end-stage heart failure, resulting in 4 surviving beyond 2 months and 3 deaths.
Why the study?
Does the totally implantable AbioCor artificial heart provide adequate circulatory support and acceptable quality of life in critically ill patients with end-stage heart failure?
Observational (n=7)
Does the totally implantable AbioCor artificial heart provide adequate circulatory support and acceptable quality of life in critically ill patients with end-stage heart failure?
Early experience with the AbioCor totally implantable replacement heart demonstrates feasibility for extending survival and improving quality of life in a subset of patients with end-stage heart failure.
Should not yet change practice in end-stage HF; hypothesis-generating for totally implantable hearts, larger trials needed.
An artificial heart with adequate circulatory support and an acceptable quality of life remains one of the holy grails of heart failure medicine and surgery. The totally implantable AbioCor is powered electrically via an external power source and has no skin-piercing cables. To date, seven critically ill patients with end-stage heart failure have been implanted with it. Four patients survived beyond 2 months, and two patients were discharged from the hospital. Both enjoyed improved quality of life with frequent social excursions; another patient is about to be discharged. While three patients died, early trials suggest that this device holds promise.
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Elena C. Holmes (2003) conducted an observational in end-stage heart failure (n=7). AbioCor totally implantable replacement heart was evaluated. The AbioCor totally implantable replacement heart was implanted in 7 critically ill patients with end-stage heart failure, resulting in 4 surviving beyond 2 months and 3 deaths.
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