ARTIFICIAL-HEART AND NEUROMONITORING - TE CHNICAL AND CLINICAL ASPECTS

There is a steady progress in the development of artificial heart and circulatory assist devices. There is also no doubt that further advanc es in energy systems, materials, and electronics will provide for smal ler and more reliable electrically driven blood pumps, but the present engineering design appears to be adequate to provide devices satisfac tory for initial clinical use. Due to problems in the availability of suitable donor hearts, the concept of replacing the natural heart with an artificial heart as a ''bridge to transplantation'' has gained att ention in recent years. The present paper shows technical and clinical aspects of multivariable electrophysiologic neuromonitoring in a pati ent with an artificial heart assist device in the intensive care unit. The data (EEG, 40 Hz brain oscillations, brainstem auditory-and somat osensory evoked potentials) are discussed with respect to the influenc e of the artificial heart on their quality and reliability. Reasons fo r artifacts and problems of interpretation are shown.