Aussie man leaves hospital with totally artificial heart in world first

An Australian patient has become the world's first to be discharged after receiving a fully artificial heart implant. This marks a significant breakthrough in the clinical application of artificial heart technology, bringing new hope to patients awaiting heart transplants.

The patient, a man in his 40s from New South Wales, underwent a six-hour operation at St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney last November, successfully receiving the artificial heart implant. Following the surgery, he was observed in the intensive care unit for several weeks, then transferred to a regular ward for continued monitoring, and was successfully discharged last month.

This artificial heart, manufactured by medical technology company BiVACOR and made of titanium, is designed to maintain the patient's vital signs until a suitable organ donor becomes available. The patient underwent a heart transplant in early March this year, and his time using the artificial heart as a bridge to transplant also set a world record.

It is understood that the device uses a pump to maintain basic heart function. Dr. Daniel Timms, the Queensland-born inventor of BiVACOR, expressed his great pride in the progress of the technology. Dr. Timms stated, "Being able to have Australia participate in this research and be part of the first clinical trial was critical to me, and something I set out to do from the very beginning."

Dr. Timms also said, "The entire BiVACOR team is extremely grateful to this patient and his family for their trust in our total artificial heart. Their courage will pave the way for countless patients to receive this life-saving technology." Dr. Paul Jansz of St. Vincent's Hospital also stated that it was an honor to be involved in the surgery, and emphasized that "heart failure causes nearly 5,000 Australian deaths each year," adding that they are incredibly proud to be the first team in Australia to perform the procedure.