Cardiac output requirements and maximum dimensions for a neonate total artificial heart.

Two equally important issues need to be addressed during the early stages of the design of an implantable total artificial heart (TAH): proper anatomical fit and cardiac output capacity. As part of a first-time feasibility study to develop a neonate-size TAH, two studies were conducted to establish useful anatomical and physiological standards. The first (Study A) was conducted to determine the maximum dimensions of a neonate-size TAH. Twelve preserved hearts from full-term neonates with the hypoplastic left heart syndrome were examined. A second study (Study B) was designed to determine the acceptable minimum stroke volume compatible with minimum neonate cardiac output requirements. This study was based on a combination of: a) reported cardiac output studies in healthy term neonates, and term neonates with heart failure, b) body weight range, and c) limiting factors of TAH technology, e.g., valvular regurgitation and leveling off of the maximum cardiac output value at a specific heart rate and filling pressure. The proposed neonatal standards for TAH technology are presented.