Former Professional Soccer Player Waits for Donor Heart at Home Using the Freedom® Portable Driver to Power His Total Artificial Heart
SynCardia Systems, Inc., manufacturer of the world’s first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE (Europe) approved Total Artificial Heart, announced today that for the first time in Izmir, Turkey, a patient implanted with the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart has been discharged from the hospital. On Sept. 26, 57-year-old Nurullah Balik was discharged from Ege University Hospital to wait for a matching donor heart at home using the Freedom® portable driver to power his Total Artificial Heart.
“I am very happy to return home,” said Mr. Balik, a former professional soccer player. “Thanks to the Freedom portable driver, now I can enjoy my daily routine in the town where I live instead of in the hospital.”
In 2002, Mr. Balik suffered a heart attack and received several stents. Five years later, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Over time, his condition continued to deteriorate and in May 2012, he was diagnosed with heart failure affecting both sides of his heart (biventricular failure). In addition, three of his four heart valves were leaking. He was admitted to the hospital on July 17.
“This patient was in severe biventricular failure with valvular insufficiency,” said Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ozbaran, head of the Transplant and Assist Device Program. “The best option for our patient was the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart”… read more at SynCardia.com