1cr artificial heart brings hope to city

Mumbai: A mechanized device weighing 400 grams may soon give a new lease of life to over 4 million people in the country who die of heart failure every year. A city hospital has brought in the technology to implant an artificial heart that takes over the function of the original heart and promises to double the patient's life-expectancy. 

    Bandra's Asian Heart Institute recently completed training its team of doctors to implant the device in patients of heart failure. End-stage heart disease, wherein the heart loses its ability to pump oxygenated blood, currently almost means a death sentence for the patient. The lifesaver that runs on rechargeable batteries, will come at varying costs. At the AHI, it will cost a whopping Rs 1 crore. 
    Experts say with incidence of heart failure increasing by 2 million annually and heart transplants being a distant dream in the country, this technology could be the way forward. Vice-chairman and managing director of AHI Dr Ramakant Panda said, "Less than 1% of heart failure patients have any chance of getting an organ for transplant. This device, much smaller than the original heart, could be our solution to heart failure," he said. He explained that the artificial heart not only gives the patient a shot at life, it also allows the natural heart to recover. In 10-15% of patients, the original heart recovers and the device is then removed. 
LIFE FROM THE LAB 
An artificial heart does not replace the original heart, but takes over its functioning 
The device is placed below the diaphragm. It is attached to the heart and to an external system that includes batteries that need to be charged every 12-14 hours 
Among others, it can be a boon for those facing risk of death due to heart failure or those who cannot undergo cardiac transplantation 
The device is very expensive and there are fears of infection, thanks to the external charging point 10K lives saved worldwide, artificial heart proves boon 
Mumbai: An artificial heart, a device now available in the country, will come as a boon for patientswho areidealfor a heart transplant but need assistance to stay alive till they get a donor. Globally over 10,000 people are believed to be living with the deviceconsideredthe mostsophisticatedto assist a failing heart. 
    Dr Ramakant Panda, vicechairman and managing director of Asian Heart Institute, said, "For those who don't even havetheoption of cardiactransplantation, this is probably the only waytostay alive." 
    Senior consultantcardiovascular surgeon Dr Prashant Vaijyanath, who is part of the team thatwillbecarrying outthe artificial heart transplants in AHI, said, "The device restores normal blood flow throughout the body, making it possible for the patient to breathe easily. All the fatigue associated with the condition goes away as organs receive morebloodthan earlier." 
    WhileAHIwillbethefirstfacility in western India to offer the transplant, Bangalore's Narayan Hrudalaya too got the green signal to start the programme. In 2008, it performed four artificial heart transplants, butthe programmewas aborted due to the global meltdown in 2009 thatcloseddown thecompany making the device. Cardiovascular surgeon Dr TRRajesh, who consults with Narayan Hrudalaya and performed the transplantsin 2008,said, "If a patient is given a choice between a transplant and getting the artificial heart, the patient chooses the latter. Post-operative managementissimpler," hesaid. 
    He said Narayan Hrudalaya would offer the device at Rs 50 lakh. "We will charge only for the device and waive off other fees," hesaid. 
HOPE AT LAST, AT A COST 
AN ARTIFICIAL HEART The Left Ventricular Assist Device circulates blood through the body when the heart is too weak to do so. However, it doesn't replace the heart while assisting or taking over the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber 
UNLIKE A HEART 
Unlike a natural heart that expands and contracts while pumping blood, the device remains static while ensuring continuous flow of blood The continuous flow of blood means that a patient implanted with the device will have zero or a very faint pulse 
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES 
Patients who have suffered nonreversible left-heart failure 
Patients at immediate risk of death due to heart failure 
Patients considered candidates for cardiac transplantation can use the device till they find a donor 
It is also considered to be an option for candidates who cannot undergo cardiac transplantation due to other associated ailments THE DRAWBACKS
    The prohibitive cost makes the device unaffordable for the masses 
    There are some chances of infection because a wire, to charge the device, protrudes out of the patient's body 
    It is yet to be proved efficacious for paediatric use