The LKH University Hospital in Graz has a great success to report: a young person who had lived for months with an artificial heart named “Herbert” now received a new organ – and left the hospital in a good mood.
Some farewell moments are particularly difficult, even for doctors and nurses with years of experience. The University Hospital LKH in Graz is currently reporting on such a case. A young girl spent months in the intensive care unit of pediatric and adolescent medicine – now she could go home again. “We were all so happy that the treatment had such a good result,” says department manager Michael Pirker.
She lived in his ward with an artificial heart, a so-called ‘Berlin Heart’, which the heart doctors from Graz had transplanted into her in February. The reason for this was an extremely rare cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that leads to permanent, life-threatening damage to the heart muscle.
‘Herbert’ was always there
Daniel Zimpfer, head of the clinical department of cardiac surgery, explains: “The ‘Berlin Heart’ system also pumps blood into the circulatory system. The two pumping chambers for this are located outside the body and are connected to the heart via tubes.” From the outside it looks like a cart called “Herbert” that the girl always had to have with her.
Yet ‘Herbert’ could only bridge the time until a new donor heart was available. It was a big challenge for the girl not to lose her patience, says Hannes Sallmon, head of the clinical department of pediatric cardiology.
Daily life in the hospital
Despite the extraordinary circumstances, they tried to provide a daily routine with school, fitness and leisure activities – there was even a trip to the cinema.
On August 14, salvation came: a heart was flown in. The removal of the donor organ and the start of the operation in Graz took place synchronously: the heart may no longer beat for a maximum of four hours. Now the young woman from Styria comes for her weekly check-up.
Rare procedure
“The comprehensive care for the student also marks the successful restart of the pediatric artificial heart and pediatric heart transplant program at the University Hospital of Graz as part of the University Heart Center of Graz for all involved,” the University Hospital said. There are only about ten such cases in Austria every year.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
