Wuhan Union Hospital completed \”self-developed\” extracorporeal magnetic levitation artificial heart implantation surgery

Xinhua News Agency Client Wuhan, July 21 (Nie Wenwen, Li Changzheng) The team of Director Dong Nianguo of the Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery of Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology recently performed an in vitro magnetic levitation artificial artificial intelligence on a heart failure patient. Assisted cardiac surgery and a successful heart transplant 12 days later. This is the first time that the external magnetic levitation artificial heart jointly developed by Union Hospital and a company in Suzhou has been put into clinical use, buying precious time for patients waiting for a heart transplant.

Ms. Cheng from Zhanjiang, Guangdong, underwent mitral valve replacement locally in 2020. Shortly after the operation, she developed cough, shortness of breath, and severe chest pain again. The examination revealed that her heart was enlarged, her contractions were weak, her heart failure was severe, and she was in urgent need of a heart transplant. While waiting for a heart transplant, Ms. Cheng\’s condition continued to worsen. Dong Nianguo decided to use an external magnetic levitation artificial heart to help Ms. Cheng overcome the difficulties and buy time while waiting for a heart transplant.

On June 25, the team performed extracorporeal magnetic levitation artificial heart-assisted surgery on Ms. Cheng. Soon after, Ms. Cheng came to prepare the donor heart. On July 7, Ms. Cheng underwent a heart transplant and recovered well after the operation.

“The external magnetic levitation artificial heart has less trauma and fast recovery, making it affordable and useful for patients who are temporarily unable to adapt to a donor heart.” Director Dong said.

According to reports, ventricular assist devices are divided into implantable internal artificial hearts and external artificial hearts. The internal artificial heart is used for patients with end-stage chronic heart failure to replace heart function for a long time. Extracorporeal artificial hearts are used as transitional treatment for patients with acute heart failure. They can replace heart function in the short to medium term, allowing patients to survive the dangerous period and undergo heart transplantation within a short period of time.

In the past, artificial heart technology was monopolized by foreign countries and lacked \”Chinese weapons.\” The Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery of Union Hospital collaborated with Suzhou Xinqing Medical Technology Co., Ltd. to innovate. After three years of arduous exploration, they finally developed an extracorporeal magnetic levitation artificial heart (Extra-VAD) that protects blood well, is easier to manage, and is less expensive.

“The external magnetic levitation artificial heart entered the clinical trial stage in only three years, which is very fast internationally.” R&D team partner, founder and CEO of Suzhou Xinqing Medical Technology Co., Ltd. CEO Dr. Xu Boling said.

Source: Xinhua News Agency