Successful Use of a Custom-Made Paracorporeal Total Artificial Heart as a Bridge to Retransplantation in Adult and Adolescent Patients

Because the currently available total artificial hearts are rather bulky, the use of a custom-made paracorporeal total artificial heart constructed with 2 ventricular assist devices is an alternative for children and adults with small stature. This article reports our experience using this system in an adult and a pediatric patient. The advantages and disadvantages of this technique are discussed.