There are over 100,000 patients all over the world that are waiting for a heart transplant, and many of them die before receiving a new heart. A team of surgeons from France managed to implant an autonomous artificial heart into the chest cavity of a 75-years old patient who was suffering from terminal heart failure. This type of implant is a breakthrough in the medical world, and it may pave the way for future artificial vital organ implants.
According to Carmat, the company who developed the artificial heart, this surgery is a world premiere. The 75-years old patient is currently under medical supervision, it is conscious and talkative. The postoperative phase will let the doctors at Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris, gather more information about the artificial heart and how it interacts with the human body.
The Carmat company was founded by Alain Carpentier, the famous surgeon who invented the Carpentier – Edwards heart valves that are used all over the world. With this new artificial heart, he wants to fill the time gap that any heart failure patient needs to endure before a getting a heart transplant. The Carmat heart mimics the human heart perfectly. It has two ventricles that mobilizes blood, as does cardiac muscle by acceleration sensors that allow heart deceleration, blood flow increase or decrease. For example, if the patient is sleeping, the blood flow decreases, but when the patient is having physical activities, the flow increases. According to the manufacturer, the heart is nothing like a mechanical pump, since it completely mimics the human heart.
The patient’s identity was not disclosed, but we know that he/she was suffering from a terminal heart failure, and he/she could not receive any therapeutic alternative, according to the conditions imposed by the French health authorities.
The company that built the device believes that such artificial heart could save the life of tens of thousands of patients every year, without risk of graft rejection or blood clotting. This gives a new hope to a lot of people suffering from heart disorders.
image source: www.boursier.com
source: msn
