Calcification in chronically-implanted blood pumps: experimental results and review of the literature.

Blood compatibility is a major objective in the development of long-term, implantable circulatory assist (left ventricular assist devices) and replacement (total artificial heart) devices. An important problem in experimental studies in animals has been the propensity for calcification to occur at the blood/material interface. Presented is a summary of our experience (27 studies) with blood pump calcification and a review of the current literature regarding this complication.