Bambino Gesu Patient Undergoes World’s First Robotic Heart Transplantation

Dr. Antonio Amodeo of Bambino Gesu hospital in Rome has performed the world’s first robotic heart transplantation surgery for an Italian boy. Since the patient was suffering from Duchenne's syndrome, the surgeons could not perform the conventional heart transplantation.

Instead they conducted a 10 hour surgery and implanted a robotic heart of length 2.5 inches inside the left ventricle, linking it with the upstream portion of the aorta. The boy’s health condition was reported to be stable and it was expected that the robotic heart can assure a normal life for another 25 years.

Antonio Amodeo has stated that the robotic heart is driven by a hydraulic pump which is positioned inside the thorax for eliminating the possibility of infection. He said that the pump is powered through a plug which is placed at the back of the left ear and is linked to a battery that has to be carried by the patient on the belt. The battery can be charged at night, similar to a mobile phone. He assured that the robotic heart can offer an enhanced quality of life to the boy, even though he has Duchenne's syndrome.

Source: http://www.ospedalebambinogesu.it