Recently we developed the concept of totally implantable electrohydraulic artificial heart. We tested the artificial heart which was drived by external compressive air in the calves. All three calves had pneumonia before surgery, so postoperative
course
was not only bad but also the results was not good. The first calf died of severe pneumonia on 76th day, the second calf died from troublesome bleeding and uncertain allergic like reaction, and the third died because of bleeding. However, the
performance of the artificial heart was good, and especially the blood contacting surface showed excellent hemocompatibility. The anatomic fitting was also very good even in the 35Kg small newborn calf. During treadmill test, the first calf did
not
well
tolerate for 1 minute but by the Full Fill Full Empty control method the artificial heart responsed well to the physiologic needs, In conclusion, the artficial heart had the very good hemocompatible surface, however, the volume of the artificial
heart
was a little deficient for the calf and the control algorithm needed further development. (Korean J Thoracic Cardiovas Surg 1994; 27:824-32)
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