Refinement in application of total artificial heart, with improvement in survival and histopathological findings.

Recent improvements in total artificial heart (TAH) experiments have changed the pathological findings as well as the concept of the TAH. In the past 3 years, 67 experiments were performed in our laboratory. This study concerns the 11 calves operated upon most recently. Histopathological findings in the lungs, kidneys, livers and spleens of these animals were greatly improved over findings from previously studied animals. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) syndrome has been seen in only 1 calf. These improvements can be attributed to the following factors: (1) Improved management of the lumg during surgery has essentially eliminated pulmonary insufficiency;(2) liver damage has been successfully prevented by the discovery of the relationship between high right atrial pressure and anemia; (3) careful aseptic surgical procedures and optimal prophylactic use of antibiotics and anticoagulants have minimized the incidence of infection and clot formation.