Cincinnati, OH – Surgeons at The Christ Hospital have completed the fourth-ever implant of the Bivacor Total Artificial Heart in a patient awaiting a heart transplant. This device, currently in early FDA approval stages, offers a potential game-changer for individuals with severe heart conditions. The procedure was performed last month on Mike Herrman, a 62-year-old diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and deemed unlikely to survive without intervention.
Innovative Solution for End-Stage Heart Failure
Dr. Robert Dowling, the surgical director of heart transplantation and director of cardiac replacement therapy at The Christ Hospital, explained that Herrman's condition left him with few options. "Most hearts when they get weak, they get big," Dowling said. "His heart don't get weak. It just got muscle-bound." The Bivacor Total Artificial Heart is designed to take over the complete function of the heart, providing a crucial bridge until a human heart becomes available for transplant.
A Bridge to Transplant
Herrman received the Bivacor device as part of a clinical study. "Mike was waiting and waiting for us to see if he would meet criteria, because it is in a study, a clinical study, and I went in his room, and I told him, Mike, you're approved for the study," Dowling said. The device sustained Herrman for 15 days until a suitable donor heart was found. Herrman reported feeling better than he had in decades during this period.
Potential to Extend and Improve Lives
While traditional heart transplants can add approximately 10-13 years to a patient's life, and require months or years of recovery due to the risk of rejection, the Bivacor device offers the potential for a longer-term solution, according to Dowling. The early trial phase aims to determine the device's long-term efficacy and safety, with the hope of significantly improving outcomes for patients with end-stage heart failure. Herrman's experience underscores the potential of artificial hearts to not only sustain life but also enhance the quality of life for those awaiting transplantation.
