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The third artificial heart implanted “Acibadem Sistina” opens a door for the most advanced medicine

15.02.2019

“Acibadem Sistina” Hospital successfully performed the third implantation of an artificial heart. The 52-year-old patient from the Ohrid General Hospital was transferred at “Acibadem Sistina” with signs of relaxation to the left and the right cardiac sides. Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Nikolikj says that this intervention, third in a row, proves the revival of this program while “Acibadem Sistina” Hospital proves as an example and a leader.

Considering the condition at the admission, the patient was connected to a mechanical ventilator immediately and to a balloon pump few hours later.

“Possibility provided by this pump was exhausted two days later, so we had to connect the patient to ECMO machine immediately. His heart was not functioning for the past two days due to the poor health.The patient had suffered heart attacks that had damaged the cardiac muscle so his heart was functioning with only 12 per cent. Upon the approval for implantation of an artificial heart, we performed it immediately. Although the patient had problems with the liver, the operation underwent well. The artificial heart has undertaken all functions, but the patient remains in a serious condition”, says Dr. Nikolikj.

Now the patient is transferred at the Intensive Care Unit, but has improved ranges of enzymes and expectations for kidney recovery.

Dr. Nikolikj adds that the hospital has a vision for even more advanced interventions.

“This program of artificial heart is reviving and it is an example for other hospitals that have started implementing it. All of them started to use the pumps we had promoted. We opened a new door in a field that no one had entered yet. We are completely prepared, both in technological and personnel aspect, for a heart transplantation”, adds Dr. Nikolikj.