SynCardia Video Center: Patient Stories

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Joseph Cox

• Age: 29 (at implant)
• Diagnosis: Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Implant date: Oct. 6, 2009
• Transplant date: Nov. 14, 2009
• Time on the Total: 39 days
• Hospital: Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
• Surgeon: Dr. Vigneshwar Kasirajan

Joseph Cox, a 29-year-old carpenter from eastern Virginia, was the 25th patient to receive the Total Artificial Heart at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. Cox was supposed to receive a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), but his heart became so sick that on Oct. 6, 2009, his doctors implanted the Total Artificial Heart instead. He was successfully bridged-to-transplant 39 days later, and was discharged from the hospital with his new donor heart on Dec. 2, 2009.

Video Length - 2:36