| News From Transplant Week of March 4, 2001 / Vol. 2 No. 9 |
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Artificial Heart Device Implanted at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center |
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Surgeons at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania report they have successfully implanted the Arrow LionHeart™ left ventricular assist system [LVAS] for the first time in the United States in a patient with end-stage heart failure. The totally implanted system -- powered by battery that is recharged by drawing energy across intact skin from an external battery pack -- is capable of taking over the entire work load of the left ventricle. It was approved for clinical testing in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration less than one month ago.Dr. Walter Pae, Jr. director of transplantation at Milton S. Hershey, said the surgery lasted five hours. He said the patient is in critical condition and recovering as expected. Pae led the surgical team that performed the first implant of the LVAS at the German Heart Center in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany on a 67-year-old male. He said the patient is at home and doing well. The device, which utilizes technology developed at Penn State during a period of more than 20 years, is intended as final therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure who are not candidates for heart transplantation. Pae said such patients have a low probability of surviving six months. "The Arrow LionHeart provides therapy for critically ill patients considered ineligible for heart transplantation because of age or other significant medical problems such as diabetes," said Pae. "I expect this will help thousands of people around the world." Other Sources: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center |
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