Press Release:

Surgeons Prof. Pascal Leprince and Prof. Alain Pavie and anesthesiologist Dr. Philippe Leger are recognized for reaching 200 implants of the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart at La Pitié Hospital in Paris. This is more implants than any other hospital in the world.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Feb. 18, 2010 – On Feb. 18, SynCardia Systems, Inc., manufacturer of the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart, announced that Groupe hospitalier de la Pitié-Salpétrière (La Pitié) in Paris has performed 200 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, more than any other hospital in the world.

“The SynCardia Total Artificial Heart would not be the clinical success it is today without La Pitié,” said Dr. Jack Copeland, world-renowned Total Artificial Heart pioneer and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at University Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz. “For decades, La Pitié has been a leader in the field of cardiac surgery, performing Europe’s first heart transplant in 1968 and Europe’s first Total Artificial Heart implant in 1986. In December 2009, La Pitié also became the first hospital in the world to use the new Companion Driver System to power the Total Artificial Heart in a patient.”

The La Pitié Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery is led by Prof. Alain Pavie. The 200th implant was performed by Prof. Pascal Leprince on Jan. 5, 2010. Prof. Leprince is a SynCardia proctor who helps train new centers on the Total Artificial Heart and advises them in the operating room during their first implant.

Currently, La Pitié has five Total Artificial Heart patients awaiting heart transplants. The hospital’s 200 implants account for more than 20 patient years of life on the Total Artificial Heart. According to Prof. Pavie, La Pitié has performed more than 2,000 heart transplants, ranking it among the top transplant programs in the world.

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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