Surgeons took a heart that stopped beating inside a patient and successfully transplanted it with the help of a science fiction-like device
A donated heart is examined and perfused with blood while being prepared for transplant using the TransMedics Organ Care System Heart. Nicknamed “Heart in a Box,” this new technology resuscitates a stopped heart, keeping it pumping outside of the body until it can be transplanted into a waiting patient.
The heart in a box device, however, allows surgeons to use hearts from donors who suffer circulatory death, which is when the heart and respiratory system shut down. After the heart stops beating, surgeons have about 30 minutes to retrieve it and place it in the device. The device then resuscitates it and keeps it beating by pumping warm, oxygenated blood through it, until it can be transplanted into a donor.
Until now, patients usually could not be considered as potential donors unless they were brain dead, limiting the number of hearts available. The new technology allows surgeons to take hearts from patients who are not technically brain dead, but have no hope of recovery.
Because the device keeps the heart pumping, surgeons have more time to transplant it than with traditional methods. The device can keep the heart viable for eight or nine hours, compared with about four or five hours when a stopped heart is on ice before a transplant.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Northwestern heart surgeons successfully transplant heart from donor whose heart stopped beatingDr. Duc Thinh Pham calls the new method, nicknamed ‘Heart in a Box,’ 'the biggest advancement in cardiac surgery and heart transplantation in the last 50 years.'
Read more »
'Heart in a box': Northwestern surgeons successfully transplant heart after it stopped beatingUsing 'heart in a box' technology, surgeons at Northwestern Medicine have successfully transplanted a heart after it stopped beating.
Read more »
Northwestern doctors perform first transplant using 'heart-in-a-box' deviceDoctors said this technology could increase the number of heart transplants by 20% to 30%.
Read more »
When did Ohio State football last play in inclement weather? The Buckeyes' loss to MichiganThe Buckeyes' offense is struggling against Northwestern with inclement weather in Evanston, Illinois.
Read more »