<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-10-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001024520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WORLD HEART CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WHRT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001441439</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>New Leaf Ventures II, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW LEAF VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TIMES SQUARE TOWER, 7 TIMES SQ, STE 3502</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001441858</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>New Leaf Venture Associates II, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW LEAF VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TIMES SQUARE TOWER, 7 TIMES SQ, STE 3502</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001441857</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>New Leaf Venture Management II, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW LEAF VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TIMES SQUARE TOWER, 7 TIMES SQ, STE 3502</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192212</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHAMBON PHILIPPE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW LEAF VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TIMES SQUARE TOWER, 7 TIMES SQ, STE 3502</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001231092</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NIEDEL JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW LEAF VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TIMES SQUARE TOWER, 7 TIMES SQ, STE 3502</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001340806</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lathi Vijay K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW LEAF VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2500 SAND HILL ROAD, SUITE 203</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001247851</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HUNT RONALD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW LEAF VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TIMES SQUARE TOWER, 7 TIMES SQ, STE 3502</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253170</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AKKARAJU SRINIVAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW LEAF VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2500 SAND HILL ROAD, SUITE 203</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2341920</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.135</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6063603</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.31</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2341920</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.135</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-10-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-10-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2341920</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2341920</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the per unit purchase price of a share of common stock and a five-year warrant to purchase one share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities are directly held by New Leaf Ventures II, L.P. (&quot;NLV II&quot;) and indirectly held by New Leaf Venture Associates II, L.P. (&quot;NLV Associates&quot;), the sole general partner of NLV II, New Leaf Venture Management II, L.L.C. (&quot;NLV Management&quot;), the sole general partner of NLV Associates, and the individual managers of NLV Management (NLV Associates, NLV Management and the individual managers of NLV Management each, an &quot;Indirect Reporting Person&quot;). The individual managers of NLV Management filing jointly with NLV II, NLV Associates and NLV Management are Philippe O. Chambon, James Niedel, Vijay Lathi, Ronald Hunt and Srinivas Akkaraju. Each Indirect Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise of such portion of the NLV II shares and warrants in which such Indirect Reporting Person has no actual pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Craig L. Slutzkin, Chief Financial Officer of New Leaf Venture Management II, L.L.C., the sole general partner of New Leaf Venture Associates II, L.P., the sole general partner of New Leaf Ventures II, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Craig L. Slutzkin, Chief Financial Officer of New Leaf Venture Management II, L.L.C., the sole general partner of New Leaf Venture Associates II, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Craig L. Slutzkin, Chief Financial Officer of New Leaf Venture Management II, L.L.C.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Craig L. Slutzkin, as Attorney-in-Fact for Philippe O. Chambon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Craig L. Slutzkin, as Attorney-in-Fact for James Niedel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Craig L. Slutzkin, as Attorney-in-Fact for Vijay Lathi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Craig L. Slutzkin, as Attorney-in-Fact for Ronald Hunt</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Craig L. Slutzkin, as Attorney-in-Fact for Srinivas Akkaraju</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
