Groundbreaking Artificial Heart Implants Save 5-Year-Old Girl in China, Ushering in New Era of Pediatric Cardiac Care
A five-year-old girl named Xiaoni has made a full recovery after undergoing two high-risk cardiac surgeries and receiving innovative artificial heart implants, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of pediatric heart failure and establishing a new global benchmark for the procedure’s success in patients with extremely low body weight.
A rare and severe heart condition had left Xiaoni, weighing just 12.2 kilograms (26.9 pounds), teetering on the brink of death.Diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy – a rare heart muscle disease affecting as few as 2 percent of cardiomyopathy cases – the young patient from Jiangsu province urgently needed a heart transplant. However, a suitable donor heart was unavailable, forcing doctors to explore option life-saving measures.
In a remarkable display of medical collaboration, a joint team led by Professor Liu Xiaocheng from TEDA (Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area) International Cardiovascular Hospital, and Professor Mo Xuming from Nanjing Children’s Hospital, opted for dual artificial heart implantation surgery. This decision not only saved Xiaoni’s life but also propelled China to the forefront of pediatric artificial heart research and development.
The case presented unique challenges. Xiaoni’s young age, low weight, and developmental delays, combined with the small size of her cardiac chambers due to her restrictive cardiomyopathy, made implantation exceptionally tough. Furthermore, she suffered from biventricular heart failure, requiring support for both sides of her heart.
To overcome these obstacles, the medical team partnered with engineers from Rocor Medical Technology Co.Within 13 days, thay successfully modified the company’s second-generation “Rocket Heart” – a fully magnetically levitated ventricular assist device – to perfectly fit Xiaoni’s small frame. The team reduced the outer diameter of the sewing ring from 29 millimeters to 22.4 millimeters and decreased its weight from 6.4 grams to just 1.17 grams. Each pump weighed a mere 69 grams.
“Currently, the artificial hearts commonly used for children with heart failure in developed countries are extracorporeal pneumatic devices, which are bulky, severely restrict children’s activities, and carry high risks of infection and thrombosis,” a senior official stated following the procedure.
The successful implantation of the two artificial heart chambers into Xiaoni’s thoracic cavity represents a major leap forward in cardiac care. Forty days after receiving the BiVAD support, Xiaoni received a matching donor heart, and her team successfully performed a transplant. She was discharged from the hospital earlier this month, having made a complete recovery.
The groundbreaking achievement has already garnered international attention. Several leading cardiac centers in the United states, Canada, and Germany have expressed interest in collaborating on clinical trials for the second-generation
Why did this happen? Xiaoni suffered from restrictive cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition, and experienced biventricular heart failure. A donor heart wasn’t immediately available, necessitating an innovative solution.
Who was involved? the surgery was led by Professor Liu Xiaocheng and Professor Mo Xuming, with engineering support from Rocor Medical Technology Co. The patient was a five-year-old girl named Xiaoni.
What happened? Xiaoni received dual artificial heart implants (“Rocket Heart”) modified to fit her small size. This BiVAD support allowed her to survive until a donor heart became available, and she successfully underwent a transplant.
How did it end? xiaoni made a full recovery and was discharged from the hospital. The case has attracted international attention and sparked interest in collaborative clinical trials.
