In heterotopic heart transplantation experiments in Chacma baboons, some of the animals were significantly immunosuppressed with cyclosporine, resulting in prolonged cardiac allograft survival. ABO blood group incompatibility between recipient and donor did not significantly influence mean allograft survival, but early hyperacute (vascular) or acute (cellular) rejection occurred only when ABO incompatibility was present.
It became necessary to perform a staged procedure by means of total artificial heart followed by cardiac transplantation in a 26-year-old, female patient. The Ellipsoidheart, as an artificial heart, fitted excellently in the chest without compromising the surrounding structures.As soon as the patient recovered with the artificial heart, a conseciitive transplantation was performed. This first European clinical experience gained confidence and suggests applying more artificial hearts as a bridge towards transplantation.
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