Implantation of Two HVADs Used as a Total Artificial Heart: A New Approach.

A 30-year-old patient had angiosarcoma of the right atrium with a negative outcome. The use of a SynCardia or Carmat was not possible due to invasion of the right atrium by the tumor, so we implanted two HeartWare ventricular assist devices (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) in a total artificial heart configuration using a technique not previously described. The surgical follow-up was simple, and the patient remained alive 30 days postoperatively. The technique we describe herein offers new prospects for the implantation of two HeartWare ventricular assist devices in a total artificial heart configuration.