Press Release:

Dr. Petros Sfirakis

TUCSON, Ariz. – Mar. 9, 2010 – On March 4 & 5, the surgical team from the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, led by Dr. Petros Sfirakis, Director of the Transplantation Department & Mechanical Support Unit and Dr. Louis Louca, Surgeon/VAD Coordinator, completed the first phase of certification training to implant the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart. Team members from St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia, also attended the training, including Dr. Phillip Spratt, Head of Cardiopulmonary Transplant and Cardiothoracic Unit, Dr. Paul Jansz, Cardiothoracic and Transplant Surgeon, Mr. Claude Soto, Clinical Perfusionist and Ms. Desiree Robson, Cardiac Mechanical Assist Co-ordinator.

Dr. Louis Louca

“Many people die waiting for a heart transplant in Greece because we have the lowest rate of organ donation in Europe,” said Dr. Sfirakis. “The Total Artificial Heart can save the lives of patients with end-stage biventricular failure and improve their overall health so they are in better condition for their heart transplant.”

Greece has an annual rate of only seven donors per million population. Despite the low number of donor hearts, according to “Heart Transplantation in a Low-Organ-Donation Environment: A Single Center Experience,” (Transplant Proceedings, December 2009), over 13 years (1996-2008), the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center has achieved post-transplant survival rates of 94% in the first year, 92% at five years and 70% at ten years.

The Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center is the first hospital in Greece and the 51st in the world to complete the first phase of certification training. To become a SynCardia Certified Center, hospitals must apply for and complete a rigorous, four-phase training program, including the first proctored implant by an experienced Total Artificial Heart surgeon.

Ms. Rhonda Walck, Clinical Education Manager for SynCardia’s distributor in Australia and New Zealand, Device Technologies Australia Pty Ltd, also attended the training.

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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 Total Artificial Heart. There have been more than 850 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, accounting for more than 190 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.

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Media Contact:
Don Isaacs
Vice President of Communications
SynCardia Systems, Inc.
Cell: (520) 955-0660