Atrial Endocrine Function in Humans with Artificial Hearts

THE artificial heart is currently under investigation as a means to restore cardiac function in patients with end-stage heart failure. During implantation, the Jarvik-7 artificial heart is anastomosed to the native pulmonary artery, aorta, and cardiac atria. 1 Postoperatively, approximately 95 percent of the native atrial tissue remains in situ. The atria play a key part in the control of body-fluid homeostasis by monitoring blood volume and initiating appropriate changes in urine flow and sodium excretion. Until recently the polyuria that may accompany atrial tachycardia and atrial distension has been attributed to reflex stimulation of subendocardial neuronal stretch receptors. 2 , 3 In 1981 . . .