A heart transplant is usually the last resort for a patient with a diseased heart. The number of people waiting for transplants far exceeds the number of available hearts. For decades, medical professionals worked to develop an artificial heart to act as a “bridge” to a transplant and keep patients alive until a donor heart became available.

In 2004, SynCardia Systems Inc., Tucson, Ariz., received FDA approval for the SynCardia temporary CardioWest Total Artificial Heart.

Public television’s longest-running health and wellness series, “Healthy Body, Health Mind,” is now featuring a 30-min program titled, “Saving Lives with the Total Artificial Heart.” The program follows four U. S. patients living with the artificial heart and discusses how a normal heart works, how heart failure can develop, and when the Total Artificial Heart is needed.

To watch the video, go to www.syncardia.com/News/healthy-body-healthy-mind-on-public-broadcasting-pbs.html.