Nov 20 2010
On Oct. 17, Dr. Jean Christian Roussel from the Thorax Institute at University Hospital of Nantes presented the center's 18-year experience with the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart at the Acute Cardiac Care 2010 medical meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. The aim of the single center, retrospective study was to assess both the comorbidity and survival of patients awaiting heart transplants while supported by SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart.
“is an excellent bridge-to-transplant device for patients with biventricular failure. Our study demonstrates excellent safety, reliability and efficiency. Exceptional outcome after transplantation underlines its capacity to aid in end-organ recovery.”
The study's authors concluded that the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart "is an excellent bridge-to-transplant device for patients with biventricular failure. Our study demonstrates excellent safety, reliability and efficiency. Exceptional outcome after transplantation underlines its capacity to aid in end-organ recovery."
The study included 46 patients who received the Total Artificial Heart from 1990 to April 2008. Seventy-two percent (33) of these Total Artificial Heart patients were bridged to transplant. At one year post-transplant, 88% of these patients were alive, and at five years, 78%. The overall survival for all patients who received the Total Artificial Heart at five years was >55%.
Duration of support was 1 to 502 days with a mean of 113± 106 days. Of the 13 patients who died during support, the leading cause of death was multi-organ failure (6). No device malfunctions led to patient death. Adverse events included stroke in 4 patients and infections in 37 patients.
The mean age at time of implantation was 46 (±9.8) and 96% (42) of patients were men. Idiopathic or dilated cardiomyopathy was the pre-implant diagnosis in 43.5% (20) of patients and ischemic cardiomyopathy in 43.5% (20) of patients.
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