A cardiac surgery team at University of Louisville (Ky.) Health-Jewish Hospital is the second in the U.S. to implant an experimental artificial heart into a patient, the organization said Aug. 26.
A middle-aged man from Southern Indiana received the artificial heart, which is designed for use in patients with end-stage biventricular heart failure who are waiting to receive a heart transplant. The 7½-hour procedure occurred Aug. 20 as part of an early feasibility study for the device.
The man, whose identity was not released, is recovering well in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit, the health system said.
Surgeons at Durham, N.C.-based Duke University Hospital were the first to implant the artificial heart in the U.S. on July 12. The artificial heart was created by French devicemaker Carmat and has already been approved for use in Europe, where about 20 have been implanted.