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Girl's Heart Regenerates With Artificial Assist

Posted by kdawson on from the all-heart dept.

Socguy writes with news about a 15-year-old girl who has become the first Canadian to have an artificial heart removed after her own heart healed itself. "Doctors at the Stollery Children's hospital implanted the Berlin Heart, a portable mechanical device that keeps blood pumping in an ailing heart, so she could survive until a transplant became available. But over the next few months, Melissa's overall condition improved dramatically, and her heart muscle regained much of its strength. After 146 days on the Berlin Heart, Melissa underwent surgery to have the device removed."

7 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. Sometimes... by Corpuscavernosa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... all that can be said is "that's really fucking cool." Seriously. Good for her. No immunosuppressants. Hopefully a full recovery.

    --
    We figured out a long time ago that it's easier to elect seven judges than to elect 132 legislators.
    1. Re:Sometimes... by stox · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'll second that. In addition, without a transplant, she stands a decent chance of living a long full life. Transplant patients don't last that long, on average.

      --
      "To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
    2. Re:Sometimes... by Eponymous+Bastard · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'll second that. In addition, without a transplant, she stands a decent chance of living a long full life. Transplant patients don't last that long, on average.


      Over 2/3 alive at 5 years, and actually pretty similar at 10 years - bearing in mind that most of bad outcomes are in the first year, and that this is all causes of death, including deaths that were unrelated to the transplant. I think you're missing the point here. A 15 year old living 10 more years would mean she dies at 25. Not what I would call a "long full life".

      I have to agree with the grandparent, this looks very promising. I bet this clinical trial just got extended to a lot of other conditions. If they can generalize this to help hearts come back from a variety of heart problems at different ages we're talking about Nobel prize quality research.
  2. I wish they had given my Rachel one... by RoboJ1M · · Score: 5, Insightful

    20th December 2006 and I'm watching my girlfriend Rachel die from sudden congestive heart failure.

    I remember thinking, "Why isn't there a machine to pump the blood so her heart can rest?"

    I hope this thing gets everywhere to save other people and their partners.

    J1M.

    1. Re:I wish they had given my Rachel one... by TheThiefMaster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      My god some of these anonymous guys are mean.

      I hope all of you never have to watch someone you know die, I really do.

    2. Re:I wish they had given my Rachel one... by SatanicPuppy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = Total Fuckwad

      That being said, I hope they all get ass cancer, and that their families, not wanting to have to experience watching someone die, abandon them to die alone.

      --
      ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
  3. hmm by slserpent · · Score: 1, Insightful

    i thought Canada was supposed to have bad healthcare. hmm...