Development of totally implantable BVAD (AnyVAD) in Korea -A preclinical cadaver fitting test-

초록

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Although cardiac transplantation has been a treatment of choice in end-stage heart failure, critical limitations including donor shortage, long waiting time, and rejection prompt alternative treatments. The totally implantable Korean AnyVADR can be an ideal alternative as a bi-ventricular assist device (BVAD), left ventricular assist device (LVAD), or a heterotopic total artificial heart (TAH). We observed the anatomical feasibility of AnyVAD in human cadavers for a preclinical fitting test. METHODS USED: After obtaining an approval from the Anatomical Research Committee of Korea University, a fitting test was done on a total of six human cadavers. AnyVADR was implanted by using a right thoracotomy approach in 3 cadavers and a median sternotomy approach in 1. In the remaining 2 cadavers, en-bloc resection of the entire anterior chest wall was made to clarify the anatomical relation. In a thoracotomy approach, the right side outflow cannula was placed at the right pulmonary artery either by grafting or by Seldinger technique, and the left side inflow cannula at the interatrial groove or the left atrial dome. In a sternotomy approach, conventional cannulation technique was used. RESULTS OBTAINED: Implantation of AnyVAD was easy and reproducible in a human body. The right side approach to the cardiac chambers looked acceptable for BVAD cannulations, and en-bloc resection clearly demonstrated the well-positioned cannula tips in the main pulmonary artery and the left atrial chamber. CONCLUSIONS TEACHED: The above fitting study promises a safe placement of the totally implantable Korean BVAD (AnyVAD) in a human body.

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