Artificial Heart Recipient Breaks Longevity Milestone
In a remarkable medical milestone, an Australian man from New South Wales has been discharged from St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney after receiving an artificial heart implant. This groundbreaking surgery marks the first time in the world that a person has been discharged from the hospital with an implant designed to completely replace the heart's functioning.
The surgery was performed by Professor Peter MacDonald, the developer of the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart. This innovative device is intended for people with end-stage heart failure and is outfitted with an external rechargeable battery. The man, who had been suffering from severe heart failure, became the sixth patient in early clinical trials for the BiVACOR heart.
Before the implant, the man survived over 100 days with the device, acting as a bridge to a typical heart transplant. His recovery from the heart transplant is going well, according to his doctors. While patients typically live for a median 12 to 13 years after getting a donated heart, the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart is hoped to become a long-lasting replacement for the heart and a suitable alternative to heart transplantation.
Chris Hayward, a cardiologist at St Vincent's, expressed optimism about the future of the artificial heart. He believes that within the next decade, the artificial heart will become an alternative for patients who are unable to wait for a donor heart or when a donor heart is simply not available.
The BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart is being used in a program led by researchers at Monash University in Australia to extend the survival of patients until they can get a donor heart. Meanwhile, scientists are also working on developing genetically modified pig organs as an emerging technology to support or supplant the limited supply of donor organs.
This groundbreaking development in medical technology is a significant step forward in the field of heart transplants and artificial hearts. As more patients are expected to receive their own BiVACOR implants this year, the potential for life-changing treatments for those with severe heart failure continues to grow.
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