83-day success for man-made heart

THE second person to be implanted with a pioneering prosthetic heart has made a “spectacular” recovery 83 days after his operation, said Professor Alain Carpentier, inventor of the French-made artificial heart.

Given just days to live before he received his new heart at Nantes CHU on August 5, the pensioner from Loire-Atlantique has now regained his independence and is using an exercise bike.

Prof Carpentier said he only retires to his bed to sleep or relax and told news channel BMFTV: “He has returned to a very satisfactory general state.”

He said the man had exceeded the medical trial’s target of 30 days survival, and the 74 days lived by Claude Dany, recipient of Prof Carpentier’s first artificial heart last December at Paris’ Georges Pompidou hospital.

“The evolution of his progress is very encouraging, faster and more spectacular than expected, especially when you consider the state of his cardiac failure beforehand.”

He said the patient, whose morale he considered exemplary, had made a very important contribution and highlighted his “courtesy and patience in allowing the team to proceed with post-operative assessments.”

The heart was made by French company Carmat and it is now looking for two further patients who are in the terminal stage of cardiac failure in order to complete its four-patient trial.

A COUNTRY THAT INVESTS IN MEDICAL INNOVATION

France has a history of funding scientific and medical research, which it regards as a worthwhile investment in business as well as medical innovation. Read our story about France’s role in medical innovation here.