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Artificial Heart Recipient Has No Pulse

Posted by Soulskill on from the just-a-low-pitched-hum dept.

laggist writes "A heart patient in Singapore has been implanted with an artificial heart that pumps blood continuously, allowing her to live without a pulse. From the article: '... the petite Madam Salina, who suffers from end-stage heart failure, would not have been able to use the older and bulkier models because they can only be implanted in patients 1.7m or taller. The 30-year-old administrative assistant is the first recipient here to get a new artificial heart that pumps blood continuously, the reason why there are no beats on her wrist.'" The story is light on details, but an article from last year in MIT's Technology Review explains a bit more about how a pulse-less artificial heart works.

9 of 465 comments (clear)

  1. Should sleep with a sign on chest/back.. by walmass · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Paramedics/Doctors: Do not write me off as dead. Try to resuscitate"

    1. Re:Should sleep with a sign on chest/back.. by BobMcD · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Or don't try to resuscitate. Wouldn't CPR's compressions be both worthless and potentially damaging?

    2. Re:Should sleep with a sign on chest/back.. by Itchyeyes · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think the giant battery with a cable running into her chest might be enough of a clue for most trained medical professionals to figure out that her case is unusual.

  2. Interesting concept... by curmudgeous · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...but I definitely see the need for a special Medic Alert badge for this.

  3. Re:Any systems depend on a pulse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We'll find out pretty soon now, won't we?

  4. Re:Blood pressure issues? by ShadowRangerRIT · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That said, I'm sure the 30 year old with the transplant would be happy to have any extra years. If it kills her at age 50, but keeps her alive until then, it's hard to complain.

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  5. Re:What about clotting? by yincrash · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think you just proved that what you heard was wrong.

  6. Re:Does she feel any different? by dpilot · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Without the implant, she won't feel anything again. There's no way to put this other than that it's a life-changing event. Many things after this will be different from the way they were before. But generally a life-changing event is to be preferred over a life-ending event.

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  7. Re:In a movie by saider · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And how would that be measured (non-invasively)? Blood pressure is read by squeezing off the artery and listening and watching for the various points in the pulse. If there is no pulse, there is no measurement.

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