LONDON – A 40-year-old father said he was looking forward to spending time with his son after becoming the first person in the UK to receive a complete artificial heart that will enable him to go home from hospital.
Matthew Green, a research scientist, was yesterday preparing to return to his home in London after undergoing the ground-breaking surgery at Papworth Hospital, near Cambridge.
He had been critically ill, suffering from end-stage failure of both chambers of his heart. But the device has bought him vital time while a donor is found.
“The main thing is getting home to my wife, Gill, and five-year-old Dylan; he’s looking forward to getting his dad back.
“Gradually I hope to return to work and to start cycling again as that is my main love,” said Mr Green.
The device was fitted during a six-hour operation last month.
Although similar operations have been carried out in the past, it is the first time a patient has been able to leave hospital thanks to a mobile device which will power the heart.“Two years ago I was cycling nine miles to work and nine miles back every day but by the time I was admitted to hospital I was struggling to walk even a few yards. I am really excited about going home . . . playing in the garden with my son and cooking a meal for my family.”
The SynCardia artificial heart provides a blood flow of up to 9½ litres, eliminating the symptoms and effects of severe heart failure. It will be powered by a “freedom portable driver”, worn like a backpack or shoulder bag.
Mr Green suffered from arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathia, a heart muscle disease which results in arrhythmia, heart failure and sudden death.
Steven Tsui, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and director of the transplant service, said: “At any point in time there may be as many as 30 people waiting for a heart transplant on our waiting list at Papworth, with one-third waiting over a year. Matthew’s condition was deteriorating rapidly and we discussed with him the possibility of receiving this device, because without it he may not have survived the wait until a suitable donor heart could be found for him.
“The operation went extremely well and Matthew has made an excellent recovery.” – (PA)