In 'major first in Israel,' doctors successfully transplant artificial heart at Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital

Doctors at Israel’s Hadassah-University Medical Center have for the first time successfully completed an artificial heart transplant on a 63-year-old patient. The landmark operation offers hope to other patients who suffer from severe heart failure. 

Known as Total Artificial Heart Therapy Implantation of a Total Artificial Heart (TAH), the complex operation lasted for seven hours and was performed by a medical team that included cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, intensive care specialists, operating room nurses, heart-lung machine technicians and anesthesiologists. 

The Israeli medical team prepared carefully before the complex operation by training with cardiac surgeons and other medical experts in France. The Israeli doctors also cooperated with the French medical company CARMAT. 

Dr. Amit Korah who headed the Israeli team, explained how the complex operation differed from previous heart transplantation procedures in Israel. 

“Until now, all heart patients who have undergone advanced equipment transplantation in Israel have actually received the implantation of left ventricular support pumps, which were connected to the part of the patient’s real heart, which, of course, remained in his body. These supports help those whose left ventricle is damaged, but do not provide a solution for those whose two ventricles collapse together and are living on borrowed time,” Korah said.

“Therefore, this is a historic event, which, for the first time in Israel, offers life-saving treatment to those whose hearts do not function in both chambers of the heart. Our patient is the only person in Israel living with a complete artificial heart and without his real heart in his body,” the senior doctor stated. 

Professor Ofer Amir who heads the cardiology department at Hadassah, offered more details about the complex medical procedure. 

“This is a major first in Israel, so many preparations were required with the patient’s health fund and with the approval of the Health Ministry and Hadassah management,” Amir revealed. 

“When this was given, and funding of Clalit Healthcare[which] obtained 1.6 million NIS, the professional preparations necessary for such a complex procedure began with training the team and preparing the patient,” he continued.

Korah further noted that “So far a total of 114 such surgeries have been performed worldwide for the transplantation of the artificial heart, and to the joy of all of us, the surgery at Hadassah was successful, and the heart appears to be functioning properly, and the patient’s condition is good. He is improving day by day, and the indicators show good and satisfactory functions.”

Despite its small size, Israel has become a major player in the field of international healthcare and medical development. 

Earlier this year, the respected U.S. publication Newsweek ranked the Sheba Medical Center outside Tel Aviv as the 8th best hospital in the world. Last year, the hospital was ranked in 9th place. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, was ranked first and the top-ten list was dominated by North American hospitals. 

The Sheba Medical Center, which has played a central role in treating returning Israeli hostages, welcomed the rise in its ranking. 

“This year’s rise reflects our central role in treating the majority of war casualties and providing long-term care for hostages returning from Hamas captivity. The hospital has also become a key player in Israel’s economic growth, with Sheba-developed technologies sold to global pharmaceutical and medical device giants for approximately $1 billion."