vcr - herald sun article

Herald Sun newspaper



Battery power a lifesaver

16 December 2004 / BATTERIES kept Michael Loupos alive until a successful heart transplant two months ago. This year Mr Loupos, 66, became the first Australian to have an artificial heart implanted as a "bridge to transplant". The Australian-invented VentrAssist heart kept him alive for 120 days.

Now, with a donor heart, Mr Loupos is looking forward to a renewed lease on life. The grandfather of two had little chance of surviving until Christmas without the VentrAssist. "I came in here half dead and as soon as I got an artificial heart I come good again," he said.

Alfred hospital Associate Professor Don Esmore said that Mr Loupos's heart was working at only 10 to 15 per cent of its capacity before the VentrAssist heart was implanted. Prof Esmore said its use as a bridge to transplant was a significant step to eventually using it as a replacement.

Mr Loupos was part of a trial at the Alfred in which nine patients got artificial hearts. Four are doing well, Mr Loupos's has been removed, and four died. The titanium and carbon heart, the size of a child's fist, costs $100,000. Mr Loupos had a wire running out through his ribs to a battery pack and electric controller on his belt.