Press releases

Yale-New Haven Hospital news release
Release date: June 28, 2005
Media contact: Mark D'Antonio, (203) 688-2493

Yale-New Haven Hospital announces a U.S. medical first in cardiac care

Yale-New Haven Hospital has become the first hospital in the United States to successfully remove both left and right cardiac assist devices after recovery of native heart function in a patient previously waiting for a heart transplant. Mrs. Laurie Bartow, 45, of Danbury, Conn., underwent successful explant surgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital on June 9 to remove an Abiomed AB ventricular assist device and on June 13 to remove a WorldHeart Novacor Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAS). She will be discharged home this morning.

"This case represents the best of outcomes via advanced cardiac technologies," said John Elefteriades, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital and Bartow's primary surgeon. "When she presented to us nearly a month ago, I would have described Laurie's condition as extremely critical. She was suffering from biventricular failure and cardiogenic shock. She desperately needed a heart transplant. She needed the artificial heart device to sustain her until a transplant organ would become available. Her overall outlook was not favorable. What has transpired is nothing short of a miracle."

According to the WorldHeart Novacor LVAS database, this is the first successful explantation ever in the United States. "We are delighted with the successful outcome in this patient," commented Piet Jansen, MD, chief medical director at WorldHeart. "It is the first time that a patient in the United States has been successfully weaned from the Novacor LVAS."

"Yale-New Haven Hospital is extremely proud of this American first in cardiac surgery and we are even more pleased that Mrs. Bartow will make a full recovery from a serious cardiac condition as a direct result of the care provided by our highly experienced team of physicians, perfusionists, nurses and ancillary care providers," said Kyle Kramer, executive director of the Yale New Haven Health Heart Institute. "It is our broad capabilities and our unwavering commitment to quality that have contributed to our legacy of 'firsts' and has set us apart."

On May 16, Laurie Bartow went to see her primary physician with physical complaints consistent with a viral syndrome. As her condition worsened over the next three days, she was admitted to Danbury Hospital and diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy, along with a rarely seen form of biventricular shock. On May 20, Bartow, a mother of three, was transferred via medical helicopter to Yale-New Haven Hospital in critical condition.

At Yale-New Haven Hospital that same day, Bartow received the WorldHeart Novacor LVAS and an Abiomed AB Ventricular assist system, a mechanical device to support the right ventricle. "This is a very rare, delicate and complicated surgical procedure —to connect a patient with both of these systems," noted Dr. Elefteriades. "Usually a patient in need of a transplant requires the left ventricular assist device as a necessary bridge to transplantation. Mrs. Bartow's worsening condition of both sides of her heart required even more support, namely an artificial mechanical device for the right heart as well." She was listed for cardiac transplantation on the United Network for Organ Sharing list as a status 1A patient, the highest and most urgent priority designation for transplantation.

Over the ensuing days and weeks, Bartow's cardiac function stabilized and ultimately returned to normal. She was able to be successfully weaned off the Abiomed AB, a device used as a bridge to recovery. The decision was then made to attempt to wean her off the Novacor LVAS device with the goal of possible "explantation" — the removal of the mechanical cardiac support device, something which has never been done successfully in the United States. After gradual weaning over a period of four days Bartow's LVAS was surgically removed.

"While the implantation procedure for both devices was very delicate and complicated, the removal of the LVAS was equally challenging because we were basically in uncharted waters," noted Dr. Elefteriades. "The removal of the LVAS was going to leave Mrs. Bartow's heart on its own. We were extremely concerned about her heart's ability to pump blood successfully minus the LVAS. To our amazement, her heart was able to regain full function without the use of any assist device. It is truly a remarkable story."

Laurie Bartow has been deaf since birth. She and her husband Gerald live in Danbury, Conn., with their children: Clinton, 19, Kate, 17, and Seth, 9.

See an echocardiogram of the failing heart (see image) compared to an echocardiogram of the heart beating at full capacity after removal of the cardiac assist devices (see image).

Reporters: For more information on this release, contact Mark D'Antonio, (203) 688-2493.

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Last revised: July 6, 2005 (mv)

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