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Asia's First Artificial Heart Recipient Healthy
Ding Xiaolan, the first recipient of an artificial heart in Asia, is resting quietly in a ward of the Dongfang Hospital in Pudong New District of Shanghai, with tubes linking her body and a white device placed beside her, which is known as an artificial heart pump.
The 33 year old Chinese woman could walk and eat food by herself four days after the operation, with a mechanical heart pumping air inside to drive her heartbeat and blood circulation.
Ding came from Yudu county, one of the poorest areas in east China's Jiangxi Province. She was stricken down by a cardiomegaly, which prevents the normal function of her left ventricle. The serious heart failure led to ascites and hyposarca which would threaten her life at any moment.
To save her life, the Dongfang Hospital decided to offer a free treatment to Ding Xiaolan with a fund especially established for those who cannot afford treatment fees.
Doctors planted the German-made device called the "Berlin Heart " newly introduced from the famous German Cardiology Center to the patient. The device can support Ding's heartbeat for 700 days.
At present, surgery on the "Berlin Heart" has not been carried out in other countries in Asia.
Professor Liu Zhonghua with Dongfang Hospital was joined by another overseas Chinese cardiologist in performing the operation
on January 18.
Ding's ventricle is now in a "rest state", according to her doctors. It is expected to make a step-by-step recovery within the next two months.
The artificial device will then be removed, and Ding's own cardiac muscle will resume function.
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