SynCardia Systems, Inc. announced today that a United States patient with end-stage biventricular heart failure received the 1,300th implant of the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart as a bridge to transplant in April 2014.
"The SynCardia Heart saves patients dying of end-stage biventricular (both sides) heart failure and the Freedom® portable driver provides patients without human hearts a life worth living outside the hospital," says Michael P. Garippa, SynCardia CEO and President. "Discharge on the 13.5-pound Freedom portable driver improves the patient's quality of life with nearly unlimited mobility while eliminating most in-hospital costs for this portion of their care."
According to the New England Journal of Medicine (N Engl J Med 2004;351:859-67), Total Artificial Heart patients have the highest bridge to transplant rate of any approved device, 79%. During the last 24 months there have been over 300 implants of the SynCardia Heart.
Similar to a heart transplant, the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart replaces the two failing ventricles and four heart valves. It is the only device that eliminates the source and symptoms of end-stage heart failure.
Over 175 patients have been supported by the Freedom® portable driver totalling over 100 years of support.
Originally used as a permanent replacement heart, the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart is currently approved as a bridge to transplant for people suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure in which both ventricles no longer can pump enough blood for the patient to survive.
The SynCardia Heart has been used to address multiple heart failure etiologies that may lead to end-stage biventricular failure, including cardiac tumor, ventricular septal defect, LVAD (left ventricular assist device) failure, heart transplant failure, arrhythmias and heart attack.
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