TUCSON, AZ--(Marketwire - April 05, 2011) - On March 21, Florence Nightingale Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, performed its first implant of SynCardia’s Total Artificial Heart.
“This was the ideal device for our patient,” said implanting surgeon Prof. Dr. Deniz Suha Kucukaksu. “Now he can be bridged to cardiac transplantation under very safe conditions. We are confident with our patient’s progress and expect this case to be the first successful Total Artificial Heart implant in Turkey. We appreciate the extensive support from SynCardia and its local distributor.”
Omer Bayrak, 45, had been suffering from congestive heart failure since 2001. Four years ago, he underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy and received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Last year, he was hospitalized 11 times for inotropic support.
For 15 days prior to implant, Mr. Bayrak had been in the cardiac intensive care unit. He was listed on the urgent list for heart transplantation but a matching donor heart wasn’t available. His cardiac function continued to worsen and doctors decided he was an ideal patient to receive SynCardia’s Total Artificial Heart. Since it was the hospital’s first implant, the surgery was proctored by experienced Total Artificial Heart surgeon Dr. Latif Arusoglu from the Heart & Diabetes Center NRW in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
There are currently more than 500 people in Turkey in NYHA Class III & IV heart failure who are listed for transplant. The average waiting time for a donor heart in Turkey is approximately 10 months.
About SynCardia Systems, Inc.
SynCardia Systems, Inc. is the Tucson-based manufacturer of the world’s only FDA, Health Canada and CE approved Total Artificial Heart: the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart. There have been more than 900 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, accounting for more than 210 patient years of life on the device.
Originally used as a permanent replacement heart, the Total Artificial Heart is currently approved as a bridge to human heart transplant for people dying from end-stage biventricular failure. The Total Artificial Heart is the only device that provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 L/min through both ventricles.
For additional information, please visit: http://www.syncardia.com or follow SynCardia on Twitter -- @SynCardia_News
Media Contact:
Don Isaacs
Vice President of Communications
SynCardia Systems, Inc.
http://www.syncardia.com/
Cell: (520) 955-0660
