4 ms·
Really interesting documentary. Thanks for posting this. ----- Some highlights: - these new SynCardia artificial hearts are basically the same as old Jarvik-
by bd 10y ago
Really interesting documentary. Thanks for posting this.
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Some highlights:
- these new SynCardia artificial hearts are basically the same as old Jarvik-7 hearts (part that goes inside patient's chest), save for different sizes available today
- just the external part is now more modern (thanks to advances in power sources they can be now portable)
- big problem with Jarvik-7 at those earlier times were infections and blood clotting (leading to strokes), but doctors today know better how to manage this (as far as I understood, this is not due to better mechanical design of the heart but due to better medication / monitoring / protocols compared to ~30 years ago)
- these new SynCardia hearts were used for already ~1,600 patients (as "bridge" while waiting for heart transplant)
- FDA approved trial for use of these artificial hearts as permanent solution (no heart transplant needed), the first patient already got implanted this heart for permanent use