![France: the patient implanted with a bioprosthetic heart has returned home](https://img.passeportsante.net/1000x526/2015-01-20/i55834-france-le-patient-implante-d-un-coeur-bioprothetique-est-rentre-chez-lui.jpg)
January 20, 2015– After 5 months spent in the hospital following his operation on August 5, 2014, the patient who received a bioprosthetic artificial heart was finally able to return home at the start of 2015. This is the second operation of this year. type and it presents itself today as a success.
The news broke this morning: the patient, whose anonymity has been preserved, implanted with a biopothetic heart left the hospital in early January and has returned to a “completely normal” way of life according to Professor Alain Carpentier, designer of the device. This man, in his sixties, suffered from terminal heart failure which left him only a few weeks to live before the operation. Following the death 75 days after the similar operation of another patient in 2013, the results here show very promising for the next implantations.
Before leaving the hospital, the man had to undergo training in the operation of his new portable (electric and silent) power and warning system. The latter is the lightest system of all the devices available for feeding an artificial heart, which allows it to have perfect mobility and complete autonomy.
The bioprosthetic heart
The French laboratory CARMAT, at the origin of this operation, has designed the most advanced total artificial heart in the world. Its goal is to offer a therapeutic alternative to patients with end-stage heart failure through a revolution like this one. This heart therefore includes two ventricular cavities (right and left) similar to the natural organ. Each of these cavities is separated by a flexible biomembrane into 2 volumes: one for the blood, and one for the actuation fluid. A soft outer bag contains actuation fluid and beats at the heart rate, which allows the heart to pump blood through the arteries. It is made of synthetic and biological materials which are not rejected by the human body, and which reproduce the natural movement of the heart. All of these components have been tested to last at least five years. But this project has its limits: the volume of this prosthesis is large, which is why it can only be implanted in 70% of cases. This project was developed to serve as an alternative to transplant in the case of end-stage heart failure, which in most cases does not allow the transplant of a new heart.
Heart failure
Heart failure is a condition that occurs when the heart does not have enough strength to pump enough blood and meet the body’s needs. The blood therefore tends to stagnate in the veins, which causes wear and abnormal fatigue of the heart. This results in shortness of breath that is disproportionate to the effort produced, but which can also appear at rest. Heart failure affects either ventricle, but sometimes both can be affected at the same time. The most frequent cases concern the degradation of the left ventricle, which causes marked breathing difficulties and coronary disorders. When the right ventricle is affected, fluid builds up in the legs and ankles which cause swelling. Heart failure is a chronic disease which, if left untreated, can be serious. It can be diagnosed as serious on blood tests, chest x-rays, an EKG, or echocardiography. It is advisable to consult a doctor at the appearance of any symptom so that he refers to one of the examinations as quickly as possible.