Who Is It For?
The AbioCor is for patients who have end-stage heart failure on both sides of the heart and are at high risk of death. AbioCor candidates are not eligible for a heart transplant or other mechanical device at the time of evaluation for an AbioCor. (Heart transplantation is usually offered to someone who has end-stage heart failure, but whose death is not imminent and whose overall medical condition is likely to withstand aggressive immunosuppression following transplant.) AbioCor candidates also need to meet various medical criteria, including:
- have a support system in place to assist them in recovery
- meet the physical size requirements necessary to fit the Replacement Heart in their chest
- less then 75 yeas old
- in left and right sided heart failure
- at risk of imminent death
