By Peter Rakobowchuk
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MONTREAL (CP) - A 65-year-old Quebec man who received a new long-term mechanical heart last month is being described as the only living Canadian without a pulse.
Dr. Renzo Cecere implanted the "Heartmate II" mechanical heart into Gerard Langevin in an three-hour operation Nov. 23. Officials at the McGill University Health Centre say the device, which is about the size of a flashlight battery, could last up to 10 years. That is longer than other models which are thought to be good for only two or three years.
The new mechanical heart, which is powered by batteries located in pouches on Langevin's body, provides a continuous flow of blood so the patient has no pulse.
"Mr. Langevin happens to be the only individual currently living in Canada without a pulse and without a measurable blood pressure," Cecere said Wednesday.
Langevin admitted to reporters that, before the operation, he felt his time was up after he suffered his second heart attack in July.
He had the other in 2002.
"I was finished. . . I had no time left. . . I probably had only a few months left to live," Langevin said.
He admitted he was afraid and hesitant about having the implant.
"My wife pushed me a lot to have the operation and I don't regret it."
Langevin, who comes from Coteau-du-Lac, southwest of Montreal, added it was "better than staying out for the count."
Dr. Nadia Giannetti, director of the MUHC's heart transplant program, said Langevin was deemed an unsuitable candidate for a heart transplant because of other medical conditions.
"Previously, we would have had little to offer and his heart would have continued to deteriorate," she said.
Giannetti said the entire procedure cost $100,000, with the tab being picked up by the hospital foundation.
The "Heartmate II" is currently part of a clinical trial at several hospitals in Canada and the United States.
Only one other Canadian hospital-the Toronto General Hospital-was invited to take part in the study.
The device has yet to be approved for use in either country.
Doctors says Langevin is well enough to be released from hospital in the coming days.
2006-12-14 07:01:24 · 8 answers · asked by meanny 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
That's not too surprising considering that's what we do when we put people on bypass machines for their open heart surgeries. What's amazing is that they managed to make it a small enough device that will fit into a man's chest.
On a side note: it's been established that a pulsatile blood blow, like that provided by a natural heart, is better than the continuous flow provided by the bypass machines. People on bypass have a higher risk of strokes, heart attacks, kidney/liver damamge, etc... There seems to be something about that pulsatile blood flow that's superior to any man made device we can come up with. It'll be interesting to see the long-term outcome for this man.
2006-12-14 10:32:49 · answer #1 · answered by belfus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wonder how the arterial muscles are affected by this, after all, they're used to the pressure, and I would think over time they would atrophy, and collapse.
I'm sure these doctors have thought of that, it's just my initial reaction.
2006-12-14 12:27:47 · answer #2 · answered by lizettadf 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! Could a human brain be next with artificial
nerves and emotionlessness and be the smartest person in the world.
2006-12-14 07:10:50 · answer #3 · answered by Ammy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bad news, I am going away for a while good news, The Colts won yesterday.
2016-05-24 04:09:22 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
now that is amazing. does anyone know how they change the batteries with out killing him? it sounds like a pretty scarey thing
2006-12-14 08:08:37 · answer #5 · answered by faith 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is great. Once he mades up his mind and wants you to live more, he´ll put the way in your way.
2006-12-14 07:09:55 · answer #6 · answered by whothatBE 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We live in amazing age.
2006-12-14 07:05:54 · answer #7 · answered by Paul H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that was nice, but we don't come here to read the news, we come to answer questions.
2006-12-14 07:13:16 · answer #8 · answered by bob 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋