The Kolff artificial kidney. With H. T. J. Berk and others. Kolff first published his discovery in a neutral country (Sweden) since in 1944 Holland was occupied by the Germans. See also No. 1976.

Kolff's first book on the artificial kidney. This was his doctoral dissertation. There were two versions published. The first was designated Proefschrift and credited Kolff as Willem Johan Kolff on the title page. It indicated on the title page that Kolff defended the dissertation on January 16, 1946. Laid in was a printing of Kolff's "Stellingen" (theses). The imprint of this edition read Drukkerij J. H. Kok N.V. Te Kampen [without a date.] The other edition, published for commercial circulation, designated Kolff as Dr. W. J. Kolff on the title page and printed wrapper. Its imprint read Uitgaave J. H. Kok N.V.  Kampen- 1946. It did not include the sheet of "Stellingen."

Kolff translated the work into English as New ways of treating uraemia. The artificial kidney...London: Churchill, 1947.

Disposable twin coil kidney.

"Abstract

"We report here our first experience with the use of a total artificial heart in a human being. The heart [Jarvik-7] was developed at the University of Utah, and the patient was a 61-year-old man with chronic congestive heart failure due to primary cardiomyopathy, who also had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

"Except for dysfunction of the prosthetic mitral valve, which required replacement of the left-heart prosthesis on the 13th postoperative day, the artificial heart functioned well for the entire postoperative course of 112 days. The mean blood pressure was 84±8 mm Hg, and cardiac output was generally maintained at 6.7±0.8 liters per minute for the right heart and 7.5±0.8 for the left, resulting in postoperative diuresis and relief of congestive failure.

"The postoperative course was complicated by recurrent pulmonary insufficiency, several episodes of acute renal failure, episodes of fever of unidentified cause (necessitating multiple courses of antibiotics), hemorrhagic complications of anticoagulation, and one generalized seizure of uncertain cause.

"On the 92nd postoperative day, the patient had diarrhea and vomiting, leading to aspiration pneumonia and sepsis. Death occurred on the 112th day, preceded by progressive renal failure and refractory hypotension, despite maintenance of cardiac output. Autopsy revealed extensive pseudomembranous colitis, acute tubular necrosis, peritoneal and pleural effusion, centrilobular emphysema, and chronic bronchitis with fibrosis and bronchiectasis. The artificial heart system was intact and uninvolved by thrombosis or infectious processes.

"This experience should encourage further clinical trials with the artificial heart, but we emphasize that the procedure is still highly experimental. Further experience, development, and discussion will be required before more general application of the device can be recommended. (N Engl J Med 1984; 310:273–8.)"