SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                               ------------------

                                    FORM 6-K

                        REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

                    Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                          For the month of: August 2003

                        Commission File Number: 000-28882

                             World Heart Corporation
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               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

                                       N/A
                   -----------------------------------------
                 (Translation of registrant's name into English)

                                     Ontario
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                         (Jurisdiction of organization)

                     1 Laser Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2E 7V1
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                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                  Registrant's telephone number: (613) 226-4278



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                     Form 20-F   X           Form 40-F
                                ---                      ---



Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this
Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                         Yes                   No    X
                              ---                   ---

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________

<PAGE>
This Form 6-K consists of the following:

1.   Press release of World Heart Corporation (the "Company") dated August 18,
     2003, announcing the extension of the maturity date of its senior and
     subordinated loans.

<PAGE>
News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                       WORLDHEART EXTENDS LOAN MATURITIES

OTTAWA - August 18, 2003 (OTCBB: WHRTF, TSX: WHT) - World Heart Corporation
(WorldHeart) announced that its lenders have agreed to a further extension of
the maturity date of its senior and subordinated loans, from August 15, 2003
until September 2, 2003. The company is continuing to work towards completion of
a financial transaction within this time frame.

World Heart Corporation, a global medical device company based in Ottawa,
Ontario and Oakland, California, is currently focused on the development and
commercialization of pulsatile ventricular assist devices. Its Novacor(R) LVAS
(Left Ventricular Assist System) is well established in the marketplace and its
next generation technology, HeartSaverVAD(TM), is a fully implantable assist
device intended for long-term support of patients with end-stage heart failure.

Any forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe
harbour provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainties, including without limitation, risks in product development and
market acceptance of and demand for the Corporation's products, risks of
downturns in economic conditions generally, and in the medical devices markets,
risks associated with costs and delays posed by government regulation,
limitations on third-party reimbursement, inability to protect proprietary
technology, potential product liability and other risks detailed in the
Corporation's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All
financial figures are prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP) and are expressed in Canadian dollars.


For more information, please contact:
World Heart Corporation
Michelle Banning
Manager, Corporate Communications
(613) 226-4278, ext: 2995 or (510) 563-4995
communications@worldheart.com

<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. World Heart Corporation


Date:  August 18, 2003             By:  /s/  Ian Malone
                                      ----------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Ian Malone
                                      Title: Vice President Finance and
                                             Chief Financial Officer