On a typical day in January, 62-year-old Mrs. WANG took a stroll down her hospital ward, leaning on her walker and slinging a black bag over her shoulder. To anyone watching, she looked like any other patient, but hidden beneath her clothes was the world's tiniest artificial heart, quietly pumping life through her arteries. Mrs. WANG's journey to this moment was marked by her battle with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakened her heart over three years until she sought the expertise of Dr. LI Weidong at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU).
Dr. LI remembers when they first met, Mrs. WANG was already in the grips of chronic heart failure. Medication wasn't helping, and the only other chance at life was a heart transplant, a step Mrs. WANG and her family were hesitant to take. By the end of last year, her condition took a nosedive, necessitating her transfer to FAHZU for more specialized care. There, tests painted a grim picture: her heart was operating at less than half its normal capacity, signaling end-stage heart disease, where conservative treatments were minimally effective, leaving surgery as the only viable option.
The situation turned critical on January 4th when Mrs. WANG suddenly collapsed, her heart stuck in a dangerous rhythm. The medical team's swift response saved her life, but it was clear that she needed a more permanent solution—and fast. With no suitable donor hearts available and time running out, Dr. MA Liang, Chief Cardiovascular Surgery Department of FAHZU, recommended an innovative route: implantation of the world's smallest artificial heart.
This wasn't just any artificial heart. Weighing about 90 grams, the device was a marvel of medical engineering, designed to either assist or completely take over the heart's pumping function. What's more, it was to be implanted via minimally invasive surgery, a technique that promised a quicker recovery than traditional open-chest procedures.
The surgery, led by Dr. MA and Dr. LI, took place on January 10, making Mrs. WANG the first person in Zhejiang Province to receive the world's smallest artificial heart via minimally invasive surgery. Her life post-operation is a testament to the device's success. She's not just surviving; she's thriving, enjoying travels and jogs with her battery pack in tow. Her story offers a glimpse of hope for the over 10 million people in China battling heart failure, especially when donor hearts are scarce.
FAHZU's Cardiovascular Surgery Department has since performed more than ten artificial heart surgeries, each bringing a new lease on life to patients like Mrs. WANG. "The artificial heart can be used long-term in everyday life, with relatively easy replacement if needed," Dr. MA noted, highlighting the device's impact and utility. Through WANG's story, the future of treating end-stage heart failure shines a bit brighter, showcasing the incredible potential of artificial hearts in saving lives.
