Samsung Medical Center noted on the 25th that it has surpassed 200 cases of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgery, becoming the first in the country.
The left ventricular assist device is commonly referred to as an artificial heart. For patients with end-stage heart failure where a heart transplant is not possible, LVAD surgery is the only solution. Since October 2018, LVAD surgery has been covered by health insurance, leading to an increase in surgical cases nationwide.
According to the Korean Heart Failure Society, the prevalence of heart failure increased from 0.77% in 2002 to 2.58% in 2020. The number of deaths due to heart failure also rose during the same period, from 3.0 to 15.6 per 100,000 individuals.
Although the number of patients needing heart transplants is increasing, organ donations remain sluggish, leading to fewer cases receiving timely transplant surgeries. Heart transplants hit a low of 194 cases in 2019 due to low birth rates and aging, and have since remained stagnant.
Samsung Medical Center first performed LVAD surgery in 2012 and opened a specialized clinic in 2016. In 2020, it successfully conducted surgery on the latest artificial heart model, the HeartMate 3, for the first time.
Analysis of 202 patients who received LVAD surgery at Samsung Medical Center revealed a survival discharge rate of 95% and a three-year survival rate of 80%, showing no significant difference compared to heart transplants. Notably, the hospital's 200th patient, a man in his 30s, had developed heart failure years ago and worsened to severe heart failure earlier this year, but underwent surgery by Professor Jo Yang-hyun in mid-November and has since been discharged. He is currently maintaining a stable health condition sufficient for daily activities.
Professor Choi Jin-o of the Department of Cardiology said, "This record demonstrates the outstanding capabilities of domestic medical professionals," and noted the need for continued research and strengthened management systems.