Doctors in Volyn, in collaboration with specialists from China, have implanted a long-term left ventricular assist device that operates like a pump.
The patient, 31-year-old Sergei, has been waiting for a heart transplant for over a year. However, his condition has deteriorated in the past month.
"At first, I thought I had a fever, then I experienced extreme fatigue, and eventually I couldn't even get out of bed. This all happened while I was abroad. I was going back and forth to doctors there, who advised me to return home because there was nothing to be done.
It turned out that I needed a heart replacement. But first, I had to survive until then. I was receiving treatment, and I was periodically sent home," Sergei recounts.
Sergei was in critical condition due to dilated cardiomyopathy, which makes primary heart transplantation impossible. To save him, a left ventricular support system had to be installed.
Thus, the medical team decided to implant the LVAD Corheart6 as a temporary yet effective solution. This device does not completely replace the heart, but it takes over its functions and supports circulation in patients with severe heart failure.
"The LVAD device weighs 90 grams. It is suitable for both adults and children. It is implanted in patients who are waiting for a heart transplant," explains transplant surgeon Volodymyr Tansky.
The operation lasted nearly 6 hours, with three specialists from China assisting Kovelsky doctors.
According to cardiologist Olha Tanska, the device is implanted through the apex of the left ventricle.
"It draws blood and returns it to the aorta. A cable exits through the abdominal wall and connects to a battery. In the patient’s bag, which he always carries on his shoulder, there are batteries and a controller. With this device, the patient will be able to live for a long time, allowing him to wait for a transplant," the doctor says.
Currently, approximately 700 people are on the waiting list for a heart transplant, adds Volodymyr Tansky. This number is constantly changing.
"Without long-term mechanical support, we lose patients simply on the waiting list. If the Ministry of Health implements a program, it will allow us to increase the number of heart transplants in the next 2-3 years," insists the transplant surgeon.
