Artificial heart man returns home

A SECOND patient to receive an artificial heart has been discharged from hospital in Nantes and is “living a normal life”, the doctor who fitted the cutting-edge device has said.

The 68-year-old patient, who has not been named, was allowed to return home on January 2 after being instructed in the use of the heart's portable power and alert system, inventors Carmat said in a statement. He was fitted with the heart in August.

Pioneering doctor Prof Alain Carpentier, who has carried out the first two artificial heart transplant operations said in a statement: “After years of suffering, a new year and a new life have started for this patient.

“His courage, trust and his family’s support were decisive in the success of this implantation.

And he told Le Parisien: “He told us he had gone to lunch 70 km from Nantes without any technical assistance with his son.

“Is this not the most beautiful demonstration of a normal life?"

As reported, the patient made “spectacular progress” after the heart was fitted, after Carmat announced its intention to resume testing two months after the STORY: headlinefirst recipient died in March, 75 days after undergoing the world's first implant of an artificial heart.

Prof Carpentier said that the first patient age and the advanced nature of his illness contributed to his death. Lessons learned from the first transplant helped select the second patient, he said.

Artificial hearts have been used for many years as a temporary fix for patients with chronic heart problems, but the Carmat device imitates a real heart and is designed as a permanent implant that can extend life for patients while they wait for a suitable donor.

It also aims to reduce side-effects associated with heart transplants, such as blood clots or rejection.

Photo: Carmat