The SynCardia Total Artifical Heart: What to Expect
Before Surgery
Patients in need of the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart are often the sickest of the sick. All other treatments have failed. Both sides of their heart are failing to pump enough blood to sustain their body and vital organs are beginning to shut down.
After Surgery
Once implanted, the Total Artificial Heart provides the body with immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 L/min through both ventricles. Soon after implantation, doctors and family members often witness patients turn from sickly gray to a healthier pink as blood flow is restored and their vital organs begin to recover.
Patient Recovery
Your physical and emotional condition has a significant impact on your recovery. Maintaining a positive attitude and having a support system to help keep you motivated is the key to a good outcome.
To help you regain your strength and vitality after surgery, your medical team will try to get you up and moving as soon as possible. The following statistics are from the 10-year pivotal clinical study of the Total Artificial Heart, which resulted in FDA approval:
- 1 week after implant: 75% of all Total Artificial Heart patients were out of bed.
- 2 weeks after implant: 60% of all patients were walking more than 100 feet.
- 2 weeks after implant: Liver function had returned to normal and kidney function had improved significantly, trending to normal. See End Organ Recovery data
Exercise & Nutrition are Essential
Your medical team will create a nutrition and exercise plan tailored to your individual needs. Following this plan is critical for building up your strength and improving your health so that you are in the best condition for your transplant.
After surgery, many patients lose their appetite. Maintaining proper nutrition is what provides your body with the energy and nutrients it needs to recover and regain strength. This is the one time in your life where you should always clean your plate whether you’re hungry or not.
Exercise is just as important. You’ll start by sitting in a chair, standing and then walking around your hospital room. Once you’re strong enough, you’ll walk laps around the hospital. Most patients progress to regular workouts in the gym as part of a structured exercise program supervised by hospital staff.
Faster Bridge-to-Transplant
The Total Artificial Heart is the only device that provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 L/min through both ventricles, helping vital organs recover faster. The sooner you regain your strength, the sooner you can be listed for a donor heart.
Once stable, Total Artificial Heart patients in the U.S. are listed UNOS Status 1A and moved to the top of the transplant list until a matching donor heart becomes available.
In contrast, most ventricular assist device (VAD) patients are listed Status 1A for 30 days and then moved down to Status 1B thereafter*.
*Source: UNOS Policy 3.7 - Allocation of Thoracic Organs, pages 1-3 http://www.unos.org/PoliciesandBylaws2/policies/pdfs/policy_9.pdf ›› download
Vanessa Cirillo
Tucson, AZ, U.S.
Implant date: Aug. 10, 2007
Transplant date: Nov. 24, 2007
University Medical Center
SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart.
