Australian man becomes 1st person discharged with total artificial heart
What's the story
An Australian man has made medical history by becoming the first person in the world to walk out of a hospital with a total artificial heart implant.
The surgery was described as an "unmitigated clinical success" after the patient survived for more than 100 days with the BiVACOR device, before being transplanted with a donor heart in early March.
The pioneering procedure was conducted by cardiothoracic and transplant surgeon Paul Jansz at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital.
Heart technology
BiVACOR total artificial heart: A revolutionary medical advancement
The BiVACOR total artificial heart, designed by Queensland-born Dr. Daniel Timms, is the world's first implantable rotary blood pump made as a full substitute for a human heart.
It employs magnetic levitation technology to replicate the natural blood flow of a healthy heart.
The Australian government provided $50 million for the development and commercialization of the device via its Artificial Heart Frontiers program, to provide life-saving support until donor hearts are available.
Medical progress
Patient's journey and future implications of artificial heart
The patient, a man in his 40s from New South Wales, voluntarily became the first recipient of this total artificial heart in Australia.
He was implanted with the device on November 22 and was discharged with it in February. A donor heart became available for transplant in early March.
Jansz said he was proud to be part of such a historic Australian medical milestone.
Expert opinion
Experts weigh in on the significance of BiVACOR heart
Professor Chris Hayward, a cardiologist at St Vincent's who led the observation of the patient after surgery, said this artificial heart can change the course of how heart failure is treated.
In 10 years, he said, it would be an option for those who can't wait for or receive donor hearts.
Professor David Colquhoun from the University of Queensland also welcomed its success as "a great technological step forward," but said it has a limited life compared to donor hearts.
Future plans
Artificial heart frontiers program: A step toward the future
The BiVACOR implant is the first in a series of planned procedures in Australia under the Monash University-led Artificial Heart Frontiers Program.
The initiative aims to create three key devices to treat common forms of heart failure.
The BiVACOR was first implanted in a human in July 2024 at the Texas Heart Institute, but the patient was never released from the hospital. Since then, four other US patients have gotten them, but they were never discharged with the implants.