A photo from open sources
Australian doctors have successfully brought three dead hearts back to life and transplanted them to their patients using a new technique, which, According to them, it will soon be applied everywhere.
Doctors from St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney used conservation procedure developed jointly with scientists from research institutes hearts, and transplanted hearts to 57-year-old Michelle Gribilas, a 44-year-old Jan Damen and the third patient, who is still recovering.
One of the transplanted hearts remained dead for 20 minutes before it was brought back to life, placed in a canning solution and connecting to a special machine. The hospital believes that a similar solution that reduces heart damage and improves its suitability for transplantation, will save 30% more lives.
The solution, which took 12 years to develop, is also improves donor heart function. Retired Michelle Gribilas, becoming the first to whom the “dead heart” was transplanted, said that after the operation, she became a completely different person.
A photo from open sources
“I had a transplant a couple of months ago and I felt very bad, ”she said. “Now I feel great.” I I walk up to three kilometers a day. ”
The second patient, Ian Damen, who is the father of three children, said: “I feel amazing. I have to say that never thought I would feel so good in the hospital pajamas. ”
The new procedure will significantly expand the donor pool. Previously, cardiac surgeons could only use donor hearts patients whose brain was 100% dead. However a new solution allows you to transplant the hearts of deceased patients who previously deemed too damaged to use.
A photo from open sources
The dilemma was that, in accordance with the Australian by law, surgeons must wait for a heartbeat for five minutes after disconnecting the patient from the artificial machine life support before starting the organ removal procedure. In cases where the brain worked at least 5%, there were organ damage due to lack of oxygen.
Until now it was believed that such hearts could not be used for transplantation however with the advent of a new solution, which is injected into the heart, it begins to regenerate.
One surgeon said the technology will have consequences for transplant units all over to the world.
Australia Life
