AUB medical team successfully performs first "artificial heart" implant in Lebanon

Led by two AUB doctors, the six-hour operation took place on August 28 and was deemed successful as the patient survived the first critical 72 hours, showing improvements in all his vital signs.

The "artificial heart" implant operation involves the insertion of a device called a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) that takes over the functions of the left ventricle of the heart, the dominant chamber which is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood via the aorta to the rest of the body.

"The operation was a huge success as it was this patient's last chance at life," said Dr. Pierre Sfeir, the AUBMC surgeon who conducted the operation. "His vital organs are functioning normally and the new device implant is pumping blood properly," added Dr Hadi Skouri, the AUBMC cardiologist who has been treating the patient and a specialist on heart failure and transplantation.

The LVAD used in this surgery is called Heartmate II. It is manufactured by the US medical technology company, Thoratec.

The two AUB doctors were assisted by a multidisciplinary medical team, including the leading expert on LVAD operations, Dr. Latif Arusoglu, a German surgeon, as well as a clinical specialist, both dispatched by Thoratec.

"90% of all cardiac failures are the result of left ventricular failure," explained Dr. Skouri.

When the left ventricle does not function adequately, there are several treatment options available to physicians, he added. As a first step, these patients are placed on a drug therapy that helps the heart pump blood. If that does not work, patients might undergo a relatively simple operation that involves inserting a pacemaker or other devices that help improve the heart's pumping function. As a last resort, physicians opt for human heart transplants. Since human heart donors are in short supply, surgeons have previously used the LVAD as a temporary solution, while waiting for a human donor heart. LVADs have been available to patients since the mid-1990s, but only through an in-hospital procedure. About five years ago, doctors found out that the new generation of LVADs can be used as "a destination therapy" for patients who are not candidates for heart transplantation.

"The aim of implanting such devices is to preserve life, restore blood circulation and provide optimal blood supply to all vital organs and thus normalizing organ function," explained Dr. Skouri.

Of course, not all patients are eligible for this ultra-expensive and complicated surgery, noted the doctors. "If the patient suffers from other serious chronic diseases, we cannot operate on him/her," said Dr. Sfeir, who also heads the division of cardio-thoracic surgery at AUBMC.

Dr. Samir Alam, who heads the cardiology division, also stressed the fact that LVADs are a "last-resort treatment".

"Although we are very excited to offer this new procedure to our patients, we cannot stress enough the complexity of this surgery and the fact that not all cardiac patients are eligible for this implant," he noted.

The 37-year-old man who was operated on at AUBMC fulfilled all the criteria.

An employee at Byblos Bank expressed his deep gratitude for his employer who covered the cost of the operation.