Press Release:
4 Top Transplant Hospitals Honored as “Best of the Best”
for Total Artificial Heart
Cleveland Clinic, German Heart Institute Berlin, VCU Medical Center
and Phoenix-Area Hospital Recognized as 100% Centers
Dr. Nicholas Smedira, Cleveland Clinic
TUCSON, Ariz. – June 11, 2009 – SynCardia Systems, Inc., manufacturer of the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart, has honored the following transplant centers for achieving 100% success rates for 5 or more consecutive patients implanted with the Total Artificial Heart. Patient success is defined as bridged-to-transplant or currently listed for transplant.
- Phoenix-area hospital – 9 in a row
- Cleveland Clinic – 7 in a row
Dr. Nicholas Smedira – Director of the Cardiac Transplantation and Ventricular Assist Device Therapies Program
- Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center - 5 in a row
Dr. Vigneshwar Kasirajan - Chair of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- German Heart Institute Berlin (DHZB) – 5 in a row
Prof. Roland Hetzer - Chairman, Professor of Surgery, Medical Director
Dr. Vigneshwar Kasirajan, VCU Medical Center
"We have implanted 22 of the SynCardia Total Artificial Hearts and have had very good outcomes,” said Dr. Kasirajan. “We have had fewer complications with infection or embolic events with the Total Artificial Heart than with left ventricular assist devices.”
VCU Medical Center and the Phoenix-area hospital were honored as 100% Centers for the second consecutive year.
Prof. Roland Hetzer, German Heart Institute Berlin
Since becoming a SynCardia Certified Center in August 2007, the Phoenix-area hospital has achieved a 92% overall success rate. Out of 12 patients, 11 are successes: 9 have been transplanted and 2 are currently waiting for a matching donor heart.
Since becoming a SynCardia Certified Center in April 2006, VCU Medical Center has achieved an 86% overall success rate. Out of 22 patients, 19 are successes: 15 have been transplanted and 4 are currently waiting for a matching donor heart.
“People who need the Total Artificial Heart are often days, if not hours from death,” said Rodger Ford, CEO and President of SynCardia. “SynCardia Certified Centers are saving the ’sickest of the sick’ by bridging them to life with the Total Artificial Heart.”
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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 CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart. There have been more than 800 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, accounting for more than 180 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.
Cell: (520) 955-0660
