What Are the Risks of a Total Artificial
Heart?
Getting a total artificial heart (TAH) involves some
serious risks. These risks include blood clots, bleeding, infection, and device
malfunctions. Because of these risks, only a small number of people currently
have TAHs.
There's a small risk of dying during TAH surgery.
There's also a small risk that your body may respond badly to the medicine used
to put you to sleep during the surgery. However, most patients survive and
recover from TAH surgery.
If you're eligible for a TAH, you will work with
your doctor to decide whether the benefits of the device outweigh the
risks.
Researchers are working to improve TAHs and lessen
the risks of using these devices.
Blood Clots
When your blood comes in contact with something that
isn't a natural part of your body, such as a TAH, it tends to clot more than
normal. Blood clots can disrupt blood flow and may block blood vessels leading
to important organs in the body.
Blood clots can lead to severe complications or even
death. For this reason, you need to take medicine to prevent dangerous clotting
(anticlotting medicine) for as long as you have a TAH.
Bleeding
The surgery to implant a TAH is very complex. There
are many places in your chest where you could develop bleeding during and after
the surgery.
The amount of anticlotting medicine you take also
raises your risk for bleeding. Balancing the anticlotting medicine with the
risk of bleeding can be hard. Make sure to take your medicine exactly as your
doctor prescribes.
Infection
One of the two available TAHs, the CardioWest,
attaches to a power source outside your body through holes in your abdomen. Any
time you have a hole in your skin, it increases the risk of bacteria getting in
and causing an infection.
With permanent tubes connected to the outside
through your skin, this risk for infection is serious. You will need to take
medicines to try to prevent infections.
Your health care team will need to watch you very
closely if you have any signs of infection, such as fever. You may need to
check your temperature several times a day as part of your ongoing care.
With both types of TAH, there's a risk for infection
after surgery. Your doctor will prescribe medicine to reduce the risk.
Device Malfunctions
Because TAHs are so complex, they can malfunction
(not work properly) in different ways. A TAH's:
- Pumping action may not be exactly right
- Power may fail
- Parts may stop working properly
This doesn't mean a TAH is bound to fail. In fact,
those that have been implanted in people in recent years have generally worked
very well. However, problems with how well a TAH works can occur. |