A grandfather has become the first person in the world to be fitted with a miniature version of a life-saving heart pump at Wythenshawe Hospital, South of Manchester.
English: Wythenshawe Hospital (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Doctors at Wythenshawe Hospital had already tried corrective surgery – but his condition continued to worsen. Barry was considered too ill to undergo a heart transplant.Barry was offered a lifeline in the form of a revolutionary heart pump, called Heartmate2. The Heartmate 2 circulates blood around the body.
Wythenshawe Hospital is one of only 12 centres to trial the device, which was developed in the US. Mr Wade is the first person anywhere in the world to get a special miniaturised version, which is less intrusive and more sophisticated. The Titanium pump – which weighs just 12 ounces – rotates nine times faster than an electric drill.
The grandfather-of-five has responded well and is due to go home to where he lives in Macclesfield, Cheshire. Barry has said: ‘It’s been a tough eight years but I hope all that is behind me now. I have a new chance of life and I am looking forward to the birth of my new grandson next month. I feel very privileged to have been chosen to pioneer this remarkable device.’
Dr Steve Shaw who is a consultant cardiologist at Wythenshawe Hospital North Cardiac Centre worked with a team of doctors and nurses to fit the pump – a smaller and more sophisticated version of an earlier model.
Dr Shaw said ’The refined features of the Heartmate2 include computer technology which will allow Barry to read out power consumption and blood flow if he is feeling unwell to alert doctors. There is also a built-in back-up battery in case he accidentally disconnects the power.”
Dr Steve Shaw, consultant cardiologist at Wythenshawe Hospital, worked with a team of doctors and nurses to fit the pump – a smaller and more sophisticated version of an earlier model.
He said: ‘The refined features of the Heartmate2 include computer technology which will allow Barry to read out power consumption and blood flow if he is feeling unwell to alert doctors.
‘There is also a built-in back-up battery in case he accidentally disconnects the power.’
Prof Nizar Yonan, director of transplant at Wythenshawe Hospital, said the Heartmate 2 could be used to support patients while they wait for a donor heart or, as in Barry’s case, as a permanent option.
He said: ‘We are keeping Barry in hospital for a couple of days for observation and tests, but we are really pleased with his progress.’
Tags: Macclesfield, Manchester, University Hospital of South Manchester, Ventricular assist device, Wythenshawe Hospital
This entry was posted on Sunday, August 19th, 2012 at 4:21 pm and is filed under Heart Failure Treatment.
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