The Total Artificial Heart

      Dr. Robert Jarvik is a common name used when referring to the complete circulatory support that is known as the Total Artificial Heart (TAH). There is more to the story. The path of the TAH actually started in 1964 when Domino Liotta and Denton Cooley implanted the first TAH at the Texas Heart Institute. In 1982, a patient by the name of Barney Clark was implanted with the Jarvik-7 TAH. He survived 112 days. In 2010, the CardioWest TAH was officially renamed the SynCardia temporary TAH. The SynCardia temporary TAH is the device currently in use today. 

Despite its less than favorable beginnings, there have been several success stories. CBS news did a story on Charles Okeke. The first person in the world to be discharged from the hospital with a TAH implanted. See and enjoy Mr. Okeke's story here.

You are probably asking what is the total artificial heart (TAH)? As the reader will see in all of the hyperlinks provided how intense of a surgery it is. This is the final option before heart transplant or as a type of destination therapy. The patient receiving a TAH is likely to be in end stage congestive heart failure. As in Mr Okeke's case, he was already transplanted once. A second transplant was not an option, so the only option for survival is the TAH.

A handful of patients at Strong Memorial Hospital have been implanted with the TAH. I have spoken with several nurses that have cared for these patients. Similar to the patients with other types of circulatory support, the care is basically the same. Nurses need to monitor filling pressures of the pump, monitor the patient's telemetry, and daily dressing changes at the entry point. The potential risks are exactly the same as well. These patients are at risk for clotting which puts them at risk for a stroke. The other major risks include drive line and pocket infection, and most especially device failure. 


I hope this blog was helpful to those researching mechanical circulatory support for the treatment of congestive heart failure. Please note personal experience is different for everyone. This blog is meant to be an assitive research tool. I hope that the links will give the reader a fuller answers to their research.