Jimu news reporter Liu Xun
Correspondent Nie Wenwen Chen Youwei Liu Kunwei
On the morning of March 21, the Cardiovascular Disease Hospital of Wuhan Union Medical College Hospital announced that the world's smallest "artificial heart" with a body diameter of 34 mm and a weight of 90 grams, such as the size of a walnut, evoked the "heart" for patients with terminal heart failure. Recently, a multidisciplinary team of experts led by Professor Dong Nianguo of the Department of Cardiac Macrovascular Surgery successfully implanted an ultra-small magnetic levitation centrifugal "Chinese heart" in the body of a 58-year-old Mr. Chu. So far, the hospital has completed a total of 12 cases of artificial heart implantation, ranking among the highest in the country.
The "artificial heart" is independently developed by the mainland, titanium alloy material, is currently the world's smallest, lightest mass, leading technology magnetic levitation centrifugal "artificial heart", for terminal heart failure patients to provide a new treatment program.
Almost "downtime", Hubei sixty men have severe heart failure
Mr. Chu (pseudonym), a 58-year-old who lives in Zhijiang, Hubei Province, is engaged in night portering work at the local pig farm, and is usually in good health and has never had surgery. Since December last year, Mr. Chu has often had chest tightness and dizziness, and he often has trouble breathing, cannot sleep, and even sleepless all night. After running to several local hospitals, the doctor told him that he had a serious heart condition and could not operate.
"This is tantamount to a death sentence." Seeing that his father's health was getting worse and worse, after many inquiries, on February 14, Mr. Chu's son took his father to the Concord Cardiac Macrovascular Surgery Department (now concord Vascular Disease Hospital) for treatment.
After admission, after examination and diagnosis, it was found that Mr. Chu was diagnosed with ischemic cardiomyopathy, the left heart enlarged by 8 centimeters, the ventricular wall was propped up very thinly, only 2-3 mm, the left ventricular myocardium was necrotic in a large area, the heart function was very bad, coupled with the severe closure of the mitral valve, the effect was not good after trying drugs and other treatments, the gradually failing heart was almost "down", and Mr. Chu's life was in danger.
At this point, only a heart transplant could save him. Due to the lack of supply, the matching heart source may take more than half a year, and Mr. Chu's current situation is difficult to survive. After consultation with the expert team of The Union Cardiovascular Disease Hospital, it was decided to implant him with an ultra-small magnetic levitation artificial heart in mainland China to win more opportunities for life.
Life endurance, the world's smallest artificial heart implanted successfully
Wuhan Union Cardiovascular Disease Hospital is composed of a luxurious lineup of experts composed of three main disciplines: Professor Dong Nianguo of The Department of Cardiac And Macrovascular Surgery, Professor Cheng Xiang of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, and Professor Xie Xingxing of the Department of Ultrasound Medicine, who have accurately set the surgical plan and jointly escorted the patients.
On March 14, Professor Dong Nianguo and Professor Zhou Cheng led the team to start the operation. When the extracorporeal circulation is turned on, the diseased heart temporarily stops "working", Professor Dong Nianguo accurately outlines the position of the "artificial heart" in the left ventricle, and closely sutures the fixation ring with the left ventricle, and each process is carried out in an orderly manner. Cardiologists first repair the heart "gate" and then hand over to cardiac surgeons.
"Start implanting an artificial heart!" Dong Nianguo successfully matched the pump body of the "artificial heart" with the fixing ring, and then gradually stopped the extracorporeal circulation and started the machine. Two hours later, this "Chinese heart" began to assist the heart to "beat" powerfully - the artificial heart assisted the original heart to "draw" the blood out and re-establish a circulatory system.
Subsequently, the patient successfully escaped from the cardiopulmonary bypass assist, the vital signs tended to be stable, and the operation was a complete success. At this point, Mr. Chu, as the 12th "Iron Man" of the hospital, successfully implanted an artificial heart and regained his new life. This means that the number of patients implanted with artificial hearts in Union Hospital is the second in the country and the first in central China.
On the first day after the operation, Mr. Chu successfully removed the endotracheal intubation and was able to eat fluidly. At present, Mr. Chu has been transferred to the general ward and is recovering well.
Authentic "Made in China" can replace heart function for a long time
The ultra-small magnetic levitation artificial heart implanted this time, also known as The Corheart6 left ventricular assist system, has Independent Intellectual Property Rights in China and is an authentic "Chinese Heart". Its pump body diameter of 34 mm, thickness of 26 mm, weight of 90 grams, like the size of an egg, is currently the world's smallest size, the lightest magnetic levitation centrifugal artificial heart.
"The heart is equivalent to the human body's power 'motor', helping to maintain blood circulation throughout the body, providing sufficient blood flow to various organs of the body, unlike heart transplantation, the artificial heart plays an auxiliary role, and together with the original diseased heart, it undertakes the original 'engine' function and maintains the normal operation of the human body." Professor Dong Nianguo, Director of The Department of Cardiac Surgery of Union Hospital, introduced.
Professor Dong Nianguo said that there are 8 million to 10 million heart failure patients in the mainland, of which terminal heart failure patients account for 7%-10%, for them, drug treatment and conventional surgery are basically ineffective, the only way is heart transplantation, but the heart donor is in short supply, many patients have not waited for the heart to regret death, "artificial heart" gives patients with end-stage heart failure the opportunity to live.
Previously, Dong Nianguo's team had implanted an in vitro "artificial heart" for patients, which could play a role in replacing heart function in the short and medium term, so that patients could survive the dangerous period and be able to perform heart transplant surgery in a short period of time. But the "artificial heart" implanted in the body can replace heart function for a long time. It can be said that China has entered a new era of artificial heart.
Innovation leads, building a new highland for cardiovascular disease treatment
The complex congenital heart disease surgery and heart transplantation performed by Union Hospital every year have always been at the forefront of the country. The number of child heart transplants has accounted for 40% of the national total for 10 consecutive years, and more than 100 cases of child heart transplants have been completed, leading the country. For patients with end-stage heart disease who cannot undergo a heart transplant or who are difficult to wait for a suitable heart supply, Union Hospital installs artificial hearts for them and puts a strong power "motor" on the tired heart.
Xia Jiahong, vice president of Union Hospital, introduced that in order to face the forefront of the world and the major needs of the country and the people, we strive to overcome the acute and critical diseases of cardiovascular diseases that seriously endanger the health of the people, and at the same time build a world-class and world-renowned cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment center. At the beginning of 2022, Union Hospital will play another "combination fist", give full play to the leading advantages of strong disciplines such as cardiac surgery, cardiology, ultrasound medicine, and anesthesia, and establish The Union Cardiovascular Disease Hospital to explore new and ultimate diagnosis and treatment solutions for various complex and difficult cardiovascular diseases Chinese, provide the "optimal solution" and the best "heart" solution for the treatment of patients with end-stage heart disease, and explore the "Chinese model".