Abstract
The total artificial heart (TAH) has a long and rich history, being the product of
decades of innovation, hard work, and dedication. This review examines the history
of the TAH, a device that has revolutionized the treatment of end-stage biventricular
heart failure. It reviews the development of the device from early concepts to the
current state-of-the-art device, the SynCardia TAH, which has been implanted in over
2,000 patients worldwide. The article also discusses the challenges and successes
experienced by researchers, clinicians, and patients throughout the development of
TAH devices. Our focus will also be on discussing the hemostatic alterations in patients
implanted with TAH and anticoagulation strategies to decrease associated thromboembolic
risks. The article concludes with a look at other novel TAH devices and the future
of TAH as an increasingly viable treatment for end-stage heart failure.
Keywords
total artificial heart - history - anticoagulation
