For some patients who have a failing heart, this is their last means of hope until a donor heart arrives. Dr. Francisco Arabia, M.D., surgical director of Heart Transplantation at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, provides a behind-the-scenes look (and shows samples too) of different types of artificial ventricular assist devices (VADs) that are used for destination therapy and as a bridge to transplantation.
This amazing surgeon just implanted an artificial heart in my cousin who was born with a congenital heart defect in 1980. After awaiting a heart transplant for nearly 3 years with no heart available, this surgery took place at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix on 2.22.11 (also the patients 31st birthday!) . While it is too soon to know what the outcome will be, we are hopeful and ever so grateful. Thank you is never enough to express how this family feels about this doctor, staff & the Mayo Clinic.
sherrymarcotte 11 months ago