HOUSTON, March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Texas
Children’s Hospital and SynCardia Systems, Inc. announced today
that Texas Children’s has become the world’s first pediatric
hospital to complete the first phase of certification to implant
the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart. The hospital
intends to use the Total Artificial Heart as a bridge to transplant
for their patients who received a heart transplant as children and
now require mechanical support as a bridge to their second
transplant.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110310/DC62949)
The 15-member training team, which included cardiologists,
critical care intensivists, anesthesiologists, nursing specialists
and hemotologists, was led by Dr. David L.S. Morales, pediatric
cardiovascular surgeon and director of mechanical circulation
support at Texas Children’s Hospital. This first-phase of
certification prepares the team for future implantation of the
SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart into patients who meet
specific body-size qualifications.
Similar to a heart transplant, the Total Artificial Heart
replaces both failing ventricles and the four cardiac valves. Once
implanted, the device pumps up to 9.5 liters per minute through
both ventricles to provide increased blood flow to vital organs
such as the brain, kidneys and liver. Unlike a donor heart, the
Total Artificial Heart is instantly available before the patient’s
organs begin to fail and doesn’t require expensive, anti-rejection
medication, which can cause subsequent complications.
“Over the past few years as a transplant surgeon at Texas
Children’s Hospital, I have witnessed several patients who needed a
second transplantation, but died before a donor heart became
available,” said Dr. Morales. “Those patients would have been
excellent candidates for an immediately-available heart. The Total
Artificial Heart is the only devic
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