A subcutaneous tunnel is created leading to the exit site at the abdominal region and the drivelines are threaded through. A patient's native ventricles are excised along the atrioventricular groove. The remaining atrial tissue, reinforced with preclotted felt strips, is sewn onto an atrial cuff. Atrial cuffs being sutured on to heart with native ventricles excised. T he aorta and the pulmonary artery are then sutured onto dacron grafts.
T o reduce chances of bleeding, the patient's own blood is used to preclot two dacron grafts.
This process allows a layer of fibrin to form thus sealing the interstices of the fabric while improving its biocompatibility. UMC Cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Arabia preclotting the Dacron outflow conduits. Continued top of second column. T he outflow conduits are leak tested using an adapter that allows its connection to a syringe. T he Dacron grafts and the atrial cuffs are then ready for attachment to ventricles that are filled with saline.