The heart failure treatment team at Samsung Hospital, one of the leading cardiovascular institutions in South Korea, has announced the successful transplantation of Abbott’s HeartMate 3™, the latest third-generation left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
This device has been widely used abroad since 2014, with Japan and Singapore as current users among Asian countries. However, various issues, including the spread of COVID-19, have hindered the introduction of this device in South Korea. Despite the situation, Samsung Hospital performed the country’s first surgery in September 2020.
By the end of 2020, the team had performed transplant surgeries using this device for four patients.
The latest device features advanced technologies for artificial hearts, including reducing thrombus formation through magnetic levitation and creating artificial pulses.
The team leader, Professor Choi Jin Oh from the cardiology department, explained that it shows a two-year survival rate of 79%, indicating similar results to heart transplants and effectiveness for patients requiring long-term use of the implant.
The team holds nearly every record related to artificial hearts in South Korea. After currently 70 cases, the total number of surgeries will reach 100 by next year, marking another significant milestone.
Source:SMC News – About SMC – Samsung Medical Center (samsunghospital.com)
