Radiologic appearance of the Jarvik artificial heart implant and its thoracic complications

Department of Radiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tuscon.

The principles of total artificial heart devices, their radiologic appearance, and the complications associated with their use have become increasingly relevant as these devices are used more often in patients with end-stage cardiac disease. The Jarvik artificial heart implant is the one used most frequently. Intrathoracic complications related to its use were evaluated radiographically in seven patients undergoing implantation at our institution. Because of the relatively large size of the device, complications from compression of the left lung are common. Four of the seven patients had prolonged atelectasis of the left lower lobe and two had major vascular compression (pulmonary veins in the left lung in one and the inferior vena cava in another). Other chest complications were infection in the surgical site (three patients), mediastinal bleeding (one patient), and extensive fibrous adhesions around the device, making explantation difficult (one patient). All seven patients had pulmonary edema before surgery, which regressed over several days after surgery. Radiographs readily display the major components of the Jarvik heart and are valuable for detecting pulmonary complications associated with its use.
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