Physiology of the Artificial Heart

Numerous deviations from normal physiology formerly ascribed to artificial heart pumping actually resulted from experimental artifacts. Recent results indicate that infection, thromboembolism, pulmonary pathology, and renal deterioration could be considered mostly nonspecific artifacts of mechanical heart implantation. Nonetheless, damage to the blood constituents and hepatic congestion seemed to be specific effects of artificial heart pumping. Hemolysis correlated to pumping sac collapse, low cardiac output, and hematocrit value (r = .912, p is less than .001). Hepatic congestion, caused by pulsatile venous hypertension and hypervolemia, was postulated to result from functional atrial volume restriction (small atrium syndrome).