The permanent artificial heart. Four case reports.

This article describes the clinical course of four patients in whom the Jarvik-7-100 total artificial heart was implanted as a permanent device. Details of their preoperative assessment and comprehensive summaries of their postoperative course are presented. The neurological, hematological, renal, and infectious complications they experienced and the interventions initiated to achieve resolution of these problems are described. Finally, revisions in the treatment protocols as a consequence of the experience and knowledge gained are examined.