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Sydney, Australia – In a groundbreaking medical achievement, an Australian man has become the first person in the world to be discharged from a hospital while living with a total artificial heart implant. The successful implantation of the BiVACOR total artificial heart and the patient’s subsequent 100-day survival marks a significant milestone in the treatment of end-stage heart failure.
The patient, a man in his 40s from New South Wales, received the innovative device at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney on November 22nd. The six-hour procedure, led by cardiothoracic and transplant surgeon Paul Jansz, was a world-first success, with the patient living comfortably with the implant until receiving a donor heart transplant in early March.
The BiVACOR total artificial heart, developed by Queensland-born Dr. Daniel Timms, is a revolutionary device that utilizes magnetic levitation technology to replicate the natural blood flow of a healthy heart. It is designed for patients suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure, a condition that develops when the heart is unable to effectively pump blood throughout the body.
This achievement comes as a beacon of hope for the millions worldwide affected by heart failure. According to the Australian government, while over 23 million people suffer from heart failure annually, only a fraction receive donor hearts. The government, through the Artificial Heart Frontiers Program, has invested $50 million in the development and commercialization of the BiVACOR device.
The implant is intended to serve as a bridge to transplant, keeping patients alive until a suitable donor heart becomes available. However, BiVACOR’s long-term goal is for patients to live indefinitely with the device, eliminating the need for a transplant.
Prior to this Australian success, five other patients in the United States received the BiVACOR implant, all of whom received donor hearts before discharge. The Australian patient’s 100-day survival with the device surpasses the previous longest duration of 27 days.
“We’ve worked towards this moment for years and we’re enormously proud to have been the first team in Australia to carry out this procedure,” said Jansz.
Prof. Chris Hayward, a cardiologist at St Vincent’s, highlighted the transformative potential of the BiVACOR heart, stating, “The BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart ushers in a whole new ball game for heart transplants, both in Australia and internationally. Within the next decade we will see the artificial heart becoming the alternative for patients who are unable to wait for a donor heart or when a donor heart is simply not available.”
While celebrating this achievement, experts like Prof. David Colquhoun from the University of Queensland caution that the device’s current lifespan is still considerably shorter than that of a donor heart. “It is a great technological step forward for artificial hearts – bridging hearts – before transplant,” Colquhoun said. “But it’s still a long way to go before the artificial heart could be considered a replacement for a heart transplant.” He also noted the improvement in heart failure survival due to modern medications.
The Monash University-led Artificial Heart Frontiers Program, of which this implant is a part, aims to develop three key devices to combat common forms of heart failure, pushing the boundaries of medical innovation.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information available at the time of writing. Medical technology is constantly evolving, and the information presented here should not be taken as medical advice. For any health concerns, please consult with a qualified healthcare professional. The long-term efficacy and safety of the BiVACOR artificial heart are still under ongoing research and evaluation.
