Concomitant Frozen Elephant Trunk and Total Artificial Heart as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation

Abstract

Patients with cardiomyopathy and aortic dissection presents significant challenges. Some patients are too ill to go directly to transplantation and require a bridge strategy to address the cardiomyopathy and dissection. This case combines a total artificial heart with a frozen elephant trunk procedure to increase the likelihood of survival. The patient underwent transposition of the left subclavian artery to the left carotid artery prior to frozen elephant trunk combined with implantation of a total artificial heart, bridge to transplantation. The patient remained inpatient, and underwent heart transplantation, with discharge from the hospital. Bridge to transplantation in patients with dissection is feasible in selected patients.