| Tucson, Ariz. – March 6, 2008 – As part of a new patient education series that SynCardia Systems, Inc. will launch this summer on its web site, the company has produced a eleven-minute video. It introduces patients to the subject of heart failure and the role of the CardioWest™ temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t). Future additions will include the real life stories of two male and two female patients, ages 28 to 60, as well as artificial heart patients featured in television news.
The eleven-minute video is narrated by world-renowned heart surgeon Dr. Jack Copeland. The video also features CardioWest patient Don Sjolund talking about his artificial heart just three days after receiving his human heart transplant, and the story of award-winning transplant games medalist in swimming, track and cycling, Bill Wohl.
Over the last 23 years, Dr. Copeland and his team at University Medical Center have made major improvements in the treatment of artificial heart patients, including surgical technique, anticoagulation (blood management) and patient care protocols.
There are currently 24 CardioWest certified centers in the U.S. and Europe. These hospitals represent some of the world’s finest heart transplant centers, surgeons and physicians. Six CardioWest hospitals were ranked in U.S. News and World Report’s “2007 Best Heart Hospitals” issue: #1 Cleveland Clinic, #10 Barnes-Jewish Hospital, #19 Hospital University of Pennsylvania, #22 University of Michigan, #29 University Medical Center and #46 University of Maryland.
Watch video here
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The CardioWest artificial heart is currently approved as a bridge to human heart transplant for patients dying from end stage biventricular failure. These patients are often days, if not hours from death. Their survival depends on receiving a matching donor heart or a CardioWest artificial heart as a bridge to transplant.
In the 10-year pivotal clinical study of the CardioWest artificial heart (New England Journal of Medicine 2004; 351: 859-867), 79 percent of patients receiving the TAH-t survived to transplant. This is the highest bridge to transplant rate for any heart device in the world. There have been more than 700 implants of the CardioWest artificial heart, accounting for more than 120 patient years of life on the artificial heart.
Media Contact:
SynCardia Systems, Inc.
Director of Communications
Don Isaacs
Cell: 520-955-0660
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