Patient Recovery:
The Sickest Patients Recover Rapidly
According to data from INTERMACS (Interagency Registry for
Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support), 90% of patients who
receive the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart
are in the two sickest categories prior to implant (see chart):
- Critical Cardiogenic Shock (Crash & Burn)
- Progressive Decline (Sliding Fast)
Gray to Pink
The Total Artificial Heart is the only device that provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 L/min through both ventricles to help vital organs recover faster.
Soon after implantation, the Total Artificial Heart’s high blood flow helps turn patients from a sickly gray to a healthier pink.
When a donor heart becomes available, these patients are in much better condition to receive their transplant than they were prior to receiving the Total Artificial Heart.
Patient Ambulation
Approximately 65% of the core Total Artificial Heart patients were out of bed by the 5th day after implant.
Two weeks after implant, 60% of core patients were walking more than 100 feet.
The following statistics are from the FDA Summary of Safety and Effectiveness for the
SynCardia Total Artificial Heart:
Source: FDA Summary of Safety and Effectiveness, pages 18 & 19
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf3/P030011b.pdf
›› download
Cardiac Index*
Prior to implant, patients in need of the Total Artificial Heart had a baseline cardiac index of ≤ 2.0 L/min/m2 which is
considered critical cardiogenic shock. Following implantation of the Total Artificial Heart, the patient’s cardiac index immediately increased to an average of 3.0 L/min/m2.
End Organ Recovery*
Within two weeks of Total Artificial Heart implant, liver function had returned to normal and kidney function had improved significantly, trending to normal.
*Source for charts: FDA Summary of Safety and Effectiveness, page 20, 23 and 24
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf3/P030011b.pdf ›› download

Dr. Vigneshwar Kasirajan
Chair of the Division of
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Virginia Commonwealth
University Medical Center
Richmond, VA, U.S.
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