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G26 - June 2006 - Bridge to Transplant
Intro: Imagine how hard it would be to watch a loved one die waiting for a heart transplant because no donor organs were available. Unfortunately this happens to thousands every year. The good news is that technology for keeping people alive longer as they wait is getting much better. More from Mayo Clinic.
| Video | Audio |
| Total running time 1:36 | WALKING OUT THE HOSPITAL DOOR IS A LANDMARK MOMENT FOR HEART FAILURE PATIENT OSCAR MCKNIGHT. |
| Oscar McKnight Sr. | "I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A MONTH AND TWO WEEKS. IT FEELS GREAT JUST TO BE FREE." |
Standup |
FREE FROM THE TUBES AND MONITORS HE'S ENDURED WHILE WAITING FOR A DONOR HEART. IN FACT OSCAR'S STILL ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST. BUT A NEW DEVICE IMPLANTED AT MAYO CLINIC IS KEEPING OSCAR'S HEART BEATING UNTIL A DONOR ORGAN BECOMES AVAILABLE. |
Octavio Pajaro, M.D., Ph.D. |
"WHAT IT DOES IS HELP THE HEART PUMP BLOOD." |
| To Close ups of device | DR. OCTAVIO PAJARO AND DR. LAWRENCE MCBRIDE SAY THIS DEVICE, CALLED THE JARVIC 2000, IS A TYPE OF VAD, OR VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE. AN ADVANTAGE OF THIS VAD OVER OLDER MODELS IS THAT IT'S MUCH SMALLER. |
Lawrence McBride, M.D. |
"AS YOU CAN SEE THIS FITS IN MY HAND. IT'S ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS A C BATTERY. IT WEIGHS AS MUCH AS A C BATTERY VERSUS THESE OLDER MODELS THAT WEIGHED AS MUCH AS A BRICK AND TAKE UP MUCH MORE VOLUME." |
| OLDER MODELS TAKE UP MORE SPACE BECAUSE THEY'RE DESIGNED TO FILL WITH BLOOD AND PUMP IT OUT, JUST LIKE YOUR HEART. THE NEW MODEL IS PLACED DIRECTLY INTO THE HEART. A PROPELLER KEEPS BLOOD FLOWING CONTINUOUSLY. | |
| AND UNLIKE OLDER VADS WHICH REQUIRE YOU TO BE HOOKED UP TO A MACHINE THAT RUNS THEM, THE NEW DEVICE IS BATTERY OPERATED. | |
| "AND ONE SWEET TEA." | |
| THE TECHNOLOGY GIVES OSCAR THE FREEDOM TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL AND ENJOY SIMPLE PLEASURES LIKE DINING OUT WITH HIS FAMILY. | |
Oscar McKnight Sr. Waiting for Heart Transplant |
"YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE PART OF LIFE AGAIN. SO IT FEELS GREAT TO ME." |
| OSCAR HOPES HIS NEXT TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL WILL BE TO RECEIVE A NEW HEART. THE GIFT OF LIFE. | |
| FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS. | |
Tag: This device is currently FDA approved for use as a bridge to transplantation. Dr. Pajaro says it will likely be approved within a year for use by people who can't have transplants. That means people who can't have surgery may be able to improve their quality of life and even extend their life with this new device.
And please do consider being an organ donor if you're not already. Thousands of people like Oscar are waiting for the gift of life. For more information, log on to our Web site at ...
STATIONS: Per the licensing agreement, please provide a link from your station's Web site to www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge or voice tag "mayoclinic.org/medical-edge" for more information.
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