Yuma man first in state to receive life-saving heart device while on waiting list for heart transplant at Mayo Clinic

Friday, September 08, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A new medical device that keeps the heart pumping in critically ill patients awaiting a heart transplant has been successfully used in Arizona for the first time by doctors at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

The 14-ounce device, called HeartMate II®, was implanted in the chest of Ruben Delgadillo, 41, of Yuma, Ariz. He became the state's first resident to receive the new device that assists patients who suffer from end-stage congestive heart failure. The purpose of the small mechanism is to maintain a steady flow of oxygenated blood until heart transplant surgery can be performed. Patients such as Delgadillo — whose heart pumped only 10 percent of its expected volume — would otherwise be in imminent risk of dying. In fact, because of the increased pressure caused by heart failure, Delgadillo's heart was the size of a volleyball at the time the device was implanted.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Francisco Arabia, surgical director of Mayo's heart transplant program, who said the battery powered pump provided near-normal blood flow to Delgadillo prior to his transplant surgery. For patients awaiting a new heart, as was Delgadillo, the HeartMate II may literally mean the difference between life and death. Happily, a donor heart became available to Delgadillo the day he was to be discharged from the hospital with his new HeartMate II to resume his life while waiting. His heart transplant surgery — Mayo's 14th since establishing the program last year — was successfully performed on Aug. 12.

Delgadillo says that while suffering end stage heart failure, his activities were severely curtailed and that his life consisted of "going to work, coming home and going to work again." He noted he is looking forward to "not being out of breath" and doing more things, such as traveling and sports. The HeartMate II "bridge-to-transplant" device presents both doctors and patients with significant advantages over previous heart pumps. With a single moving part, the HeartMate II is smaller and promises a longer functional life than other devices used by doctors. The HeartMate II is currently in clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy as a in bridge-to-transplant and for permanent use, otherwise known as Destination Therapy.

The HeartMate II measures less than two inches in diameter and is about three inches in length, making it suitable for smaller adults. It is approximately one-fourth the size of previous pumps. It operates more quietly, and is easier to implant because of its small size.

Research suggests the smaller apparatus allows patients to recover more quickly, and that the risk of stroke is reduced.

The importance of the Mayo surgery is that not only does the tiny mechanism keep patients alive until transplant, it allows them to gain strength because of increased blood flow. Dr. Arabia points out that despite treatment with medication, Delgadillo's heart muscles were barely moving when he was admitted. Within weeks after receiving the device, Delgadillo was able to resume some of his previous activities. He also felt stronger and had regained color in his face. Had a heart not come in, he says he felt good enough to leave the hospital and enjoy life until a call would come about a transplant.

Delgadillo was discharged from Mayo Clinic Hospital on Aug. 28. Before returning to his home to resume his duties as a produce manager in a grocery store, he will stay with a relative in the Valley.

FACT SHEET

Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. As a leading academic medical center in the Southwest, Mayo Clinic focuses on providing specialty and surgical care in more than 65 disciplines at its outpatient facility in north Scottsdale and at Mayo Clinic Hospital. The 208-licensed bed hospital is located at 56th Street and Mayo Boulevard (north of Bell Road) in northeast Phoenix, and provides inpatient care to support the medical and surgical specialties of the clinic, which is located at 134th Street and Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale.

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