Australian Man Survives a Record 105 Days with Artificial Titanium Heart While Awaiting Donor
An Australian man with severe heart failure lived for a record 105 days with a metal heart while he waited for a donor heart to become available.
He's the first person in the world to be discharged from the hospital with the titanium device, living at home for about a month before receiving his donor heart.
The transplant took place on November 22, 2024, during a six-hour procedure at St. Vincent Hospital Sydney, according to a statement from Monash University. The transplant was part of the hospital's Artificial Heart Frontiers Program, which designs and tests new devices like pumps as well as the BiVACOR's Total Artificial Heart (TAH) — which this patient received.
Related: P.E. Teacher, 23, 'Felt Something Was Wrong' After First Marathon, Learns He Has Heart Disease a Week Later (Exclusive)
The man, who declined to be identified, is in his early 40s and from New South Wales, Australia. He was well enough to be discharged from the hospital in early February with his artificial titanium heart and received his donor heart on March 6. Now he is "recovering well," according to the Monash University statement.
The successful procedure 'ushers in a whole new ball game for heart transplants,' Professor Chris Hayward, a cardiologist at St. Vincent Hospital, said. 'Within the next decade, we will see the artificial heart becoming the alternative for patients who are unable to wait for a donor heart or when a donor heart is simply not available.'
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The titanium device has a small external controller with rechargeable batteries, according to manufacturer BiVACOR, which says it's 'designed to be a long-term device that can replace the total function of the patient's native heart.'
The first implantation of the metal heart took place at the Texas Heart Institute at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in Texas Medical Center last July. Four more implants have taken place in the U.S., but this case marks the longest someone has lived with the heart while awaiting a donor.
'The long-term ambition is for implant recipients to be able to live with their device,' the statement says, 'without needing a heart transplant.'
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
There's an Invisible Line That Animals Don't Cross. Here's Why.
The animal kingdoms of Asia and Australia are worlds apart, thanks to an invisible line that runs right between the two neighboring continents. Most wildlife never cross this imaginary boundary, not even birds. And so it has been for tens of millions of years, shaping animal evolution in different ways on each side. It all started about 30 million years ago, when the Australian tectonic plate bashed up against the Eurasian tectonic plate and created an archipelago, rerouting ocean currents and creating new regional climates. On one side of the map, in Indonesia and Malaysia, monkeys, apes, elephants, tigers, and rhinos evolved; while on the other side, in New Guinea and Australia, marsupials, monotremes, rodents, and cockatoos flourish. Very few species are abundant on both sides. The curious faunal divide is named Wallace's Line – after the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who first noticed the stark difference in animal life (mostly mammals) while exploring the region in the mid-19th century. "We may consider it established that the Strait of Lombok [between Bali and Lombok] only 15 miles wide [24 kilometers] marks the limit and abruptly separates two of the great zoological regions of the globe," Wallace wrote. The naturalist later went on to independently develop a theory of evolution around the same time as Charles Darwin. The line he drew on a map more than a century ago is still considered a hypothetical evolutionary barrier, although debates continue as to its exact location and mechanisms. Generally speaking, Wallace's line separates a shelf of the Asian continent from a shelf of the Australian tectonic plate. It is a geological line, but it is also a climatic and biological one. Deep ocean channels like the Lombok Strait separate each shelf, which makes it difficult for animals to cross. Even when sea levels in the distant past were much lower than today, this chasm would have still existed. While Wallace's invisible line is most obvious when comparing mammals in Asia and Australia, it also exists for birds, reptiles, and other animals. Even creatures with wings don't typically make the trip across Wallace's line, and in the ocean, some types of fish and microbes show genetic differences on one side of the border compared to the other, indicating very little mixing between populations. Scientists have yet to figure out what invisible barriers are holding these species back. Habitat and climate, however, are probably factors accentuating the evolutionary divide. In 2023, an analysis of more than 20,000 vertebrate species found that Southeast Asian lineages evolved in a relatively tropical ancient environment that allowed them to spread out toward New Guinea on humid island "stepping stones". Wildlife on the Australian continental shelf, meanwhile, evolved in distinctly drier conditions, which dictated a different evolutionary path. This meant that Australian wildlife was at a disadvantage in the tropical islands nearer the equator. The more researchers study the Wallace line, however, the less clear it becomes about where the line should be drawn and how 'porous' the barrier might be – at least to some animals that can swim, float, or fly, like bats, beetles, monitor lizards, or macaques. Wallace's divide isn't an absolute border, but more of a gradient, scientists say. Even still, the blurry line helps us make sense of animal evolution for thousands of species. "Darwin's and Wallace's mental and actual maps were the table on which the evolutionary scheme was played out, comparable in importance to the geological time scale," argued science historian Jane Camerini in 1993 for the History of Science Society. What started as a single, roughly placed line, drawn more than a century ago, has now helped shape a bigger and more complicated picture of the natural world and its mysteries. Dehorning Rhinos Cuts Poaching by 78% – Saving Thousands of Animals' Lives Worms Use Their Bodies to Build Towers as a Wild Survival Strategy Elusive LSD Fungus Finally Discovered on Flower
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Controversial 'alcohol alternative' coming to Woolworths this month: 'Impacts can vary'
A plant-based product promising relaxation, mood boosts, and even a safer alternative to alcohol is set to hit Woolworths shelves this month. A bitter-tasting drink made from the root of a Pacific Island plant, kava has long been used in traditional ceremonies across Polynesia. Now, it's being marketed as a wellness beverage in supermarkets across Australia. But not everyone is convinced. While the plant is often marketed as natural and non-intoxicating, the science behind kava's safety and efficacy is still emerging, particularly when it comes to modern, concentrated formulations, Dr Blair Aitken from Swinburne's Centre for Mental Health and Brain Science, told Yahoo News. Some hail its calming effects and link the substance to lower anxiety, while others warn that these commercialised forms come with poorly understood health risks and little regulation. "Kava contains active compounds called kavalactones, which can have a calming effect by influencing brain chemicals like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine," Dr Aitken explained. "It may reduce anxiety and promote relaxation without the intoxicating effects of alcohol, but its impact can vary widely depending on the formulation and dosage. "Kavalactones increase levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps calm the brain and nervous system. They also enhance dopamine levels, which may improve overall mood and create a mild sense of well-being, and they slow down brain signals by blocking sodium and calcium channels, reducing overactivity in the nervous system." Woolworths is the latest major retailer to introduce kava-based products, joining Coles, which already offers a small range, including powders and capsules. The move is part of a broader trend following the federal government's 2021 import pilot program, which eased access to kava across most of the country. Commercial availability has since expanded, with products now found in chemists, health food stores, and increasingly on supermarket shelves. Unlike alcohol, Dr Aitken said, kava doesn't typically impair motor skills or reaction time when used in traditional or therapeutic amounts. "Its effects are more subtle and stabilising rather than intoxicating," he said. However there are still concerns, particularly when it comes to modern extracts and non-traditional preparations, he added. "There is no well-established toxic dose for kava," Dr Aitken said. "Most capsule formulations range from 50 to 100 mg of kavalactones, with a recommended maximum daily dose of 250 mg." "When prepared traditionally and used within recommended amounts, kava is considered safe by both the World Health Organisation and the Australian government. The substance shows few serious side effects when used short-term at recommended doses,' he said. "However, higher risks may occur with modern extracts, combined use with alcohol or medications, high doses, or use by individuals with underlying liver issues." Research into kava's use for treating anxiety has yielded mixed results. "While earlier trials showed promising results in generalised anxiety disorder, a more recent study by the same research group did not replicate those findings," Aitken said. "Kava appears more effective for situational or mild anxiety, rather than as a first-line treatment for diagnosed, clinically relevant anxiety." 🍎 Woolworths customers spark debate over brazen fruit act 💰 Woolworths responds to glaring pricing issue 👩 Aussie mum's sad supermarket confession: 'Do anything for my children' In Australia, kava is regulated as a food when imported for personal use or through approved programs. The Northern Territory bans personal importation and restricts use under separate legislation due to concerns about misuse and harm. Other states and territories allow limited personal use under federal guidelines. Internationally, the substance has a range of legal classifications — it's listed as a psychoactive substance in New Zealand, for example. The way kava is prepared also plays a key role in its safety. Traditional water-based methods extract kavalactones while leaving behind many of the potentially harmful compounds. In contrast, modern commercial products sometimes use alcohol or acetone as solvents, which can extract flavokavains—compounds that may negatively affect the liver and nervous system. Some also include stems or leaves, which have different and more toxic chemical profiles than the root. Coles offers several kava products, though not all have clear labelling around kavalactone content. For example, FijiKava Noble Root Powder contains an estimated 70–150 mg per 2.5g serving, but the exact amount is not specified. The TakiMai 50mL kava shot also lacks precise dosing information. By contrast, Bioglan Kava capsules sold at Chemist Warehouse offer standardised dosing, with 60 mg per capsule and a recommended daily intake of 60–120 mg — well within safe limits. "Transparent labelling is essential," Dr Aitken said. "Consumers should monitor their intake carefully and stay within the recommended daily limit." Dr Aitken is also a member of the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS) Special Interest Group for 'Driver State Monitoring Systems,' and noted that while kava is not typically associated with impairment, more research is needed around its effects on alertness and driving, especially at higher doses or in combination with other substances. With Woolworths set to join the expanding commercial kava market, health professionals are calling for increased transparency, clearer consumer education and regulatory oversight. "Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's risk-free," he said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Elon Musk Walks Back Threat to Decommission SpaceX's Dragon Spacecraft amid Ongoing Trump Feud
Elon Musk appears to have walked back a threat to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft amid his ongoing feud with President Donald Trump The comment was made after Trump had threatened to pull the billionaire's government contracts and subsidies In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX a $843 million contract to help deorbit the ISS, which will see the end of its operational life in 2030Elon Musk threatened to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft amid his feud with President Donald Trump, but seemingly has already walked back that claim. Tensions between the SpaceX CEO and the 47th president of the United States escalated on Thursday, June 5, just days after Musk announced he was departing the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). On Tuesday, June 3, Musk criticized Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" on X, calling it a 'massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill' and 'a disgusting abomination.' Trump shot back at Musk in a post shared Thursday on Truth Social, saying 'the easiest way' for the U.S. government to save money is to "terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.' Musk rebutted on X a short time later. 'In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,' he wrote. A few hours later, however, Musk appeared to walk back his comment after a user by the name of 'Fab25june' suggested the SpaceX founder 'cool off and take a step back for a couple of days.' 'Good advice,' Musk replied. 'Ok, we won't decommission Dragon.' The Dragon spacecraft has completed more than 50 missions, including 46 visits to the International Space Station (ISS), according to its website. According to SpaceX, the ship 'is capable of carrying up to 7 passengers to and from Earth orbit, and beyond' and 'is the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth, and is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the space station.' In June 2024, NASA announced SpaceX was awarded a $843 million contract to help deorbit the ISS, which will see the end of its operational life in 2030. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Bethany Stevens, NASA press secretary, said in a statement on X that "NASA will continue to execute upon the President's vision for the future of space. We will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the President's objectives in space are met." Neither the White House nor SpaceX responded to PEOPLE's requests for comment. Read the original article on People
