Feasibility of long-term continuous flow total heart replacement in calves.

Introduction: Implementation of continuous flow (CF) technology in modern ventricular assist devices (VAD) has afforded a wealth of engineering and design advantages in the development of a total artificial heart (TAH). However, clinical application of CF has created a unique physiologic state, the consequences of which remain largely unknown. We sought to evaluate clinical and biochemical markers of end-organ function in calves supported with biventricular CF VADs for more than 30 days.

Branched internal mammary conduit permits non-sequenced total arterial revascularization.

Recent trends in cardiac surgery have encouraged total arterial coronary revascularization, citing advantages in long-term patency and overall mortality. Often relying on sequenced, composite, and free-graft strategies, total arterial coronary revascularization is limited by conduit availability and surgical complexity. We present the use of bilateral internal mammary artery grafts to achieve nonsequential 3-vessel total arterial coronary revascularization using the preserved distal bifurcation of the right internal mammary artery.