Total Artificial Heart Transplant Successfully Accomplished
The first ever entirely-artificial heart transplant successfully took place at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge. Matthew Green, a 40-year old man received a plastic implant during a 6 hour long operation done last month.
The artificial heart is to be carried like a shoulder bag or a backpack all the time, it serves the functions of both ventricles and heart valves, providing a blood flow of up to 9.5 liters. It is a temporary solution to keep Matthew alive until he receives a donor.
This Total Artificial Heart Transplant has been successful carried out in US and other parts of Europe before, but this was the first time when it was completed successfully.
“At any point in time, there may be as many as 30 people waiting for a heart transplant on our waiting list at Papworth, with one third waiting over a year. Matthew’s condition was deteriorating rapidly and we discussed with him the possibility of receiving this device, because without it he may not have survived the wait until a suitable donor heart could be found for him.” said Steven Tsui who led this operation.
In 1986, Jarvik-7 artificial heart could keep a person alive for about 2 days before he received a donor, this Total Artificial Heart is an improvement of Jarvik-7 artificial heart. Matthew Green, is preparing to get discharged from hospital and return home, he said,
“Two years ago, I was cycling nine miles to work and nine miles back every day but by the time I was admitted to hospital I was struggling to walk even a few yards. I am really excited about going home and just being able to do the everyday things that I haven’t been able to do for such a long time, such as playing in the garden with my son and cooking a meal for my family. I want to thank all the wonderful staff at Papworth hospital who have been looking after me and who have made it possible for me to return home to my family.”
I feel, technology can be lifesaving and the role technology in medical science over past 2-3 decades has been phenomenal, several incurable diseases can now be controlled if traced at an early stage. That’s really a blessing for making, who would have though something like this could happen.
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Via: The Next Web
