Girl's Heart Regenerates With Artificial Assist 184
Socguy writes with news about a 15-year-old girl who has become the first Canadian to have an artificial heart removed after her own heart healed itself. "Doctors at the Stollery Children's hospital implanted the Berlin Heart, a portable mechanical device that keeps blood pumping in an ailing heart, so she could survive until a transplant became available. But over the next few months, Melissa's overall condition improved dramatically, and her heart muscle regained much of its strength. After 146 days on the Berlin Heart, Melissa underwent surgery to have the device removed."
I want to know why she healed - what caused it (Score:4, Interesting)
is this that special? (Score:2, Interesting)
did it heal beyond what they thought was possible/normal? or is it only under certain conditions that weren't met this time?
Re:I want to know why she healed - what caused it (Score:4, Interesting)
Is that you, Cowardly Lion? (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:I want to know why she healed - what caused it (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I want to know why she healed - what caused it (Score:3, Interesting)
However, the mental issues with 'not having a pulse' were almost insurmountable. You are alive, yet you have no pulse. Also, you are used to a constant movement inside your chest--that was also hard to get adjusted too, if they did at all.
However, just as in this story the patient's heart just re-started itself. Happy ending after all.
Re:I wish they had given my Rachel one... (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm no doctor, but I guess this technology would not be suitable for use in all cases, and that some patients still require more conventional treatment by other means - but hopefully that will keep advancing too. It's amazing to see progress like this being made in medicine and I too hope that it can help many more people.
I extend my sincere condolences for your loss and my best wishes for you.
Sincerely,
Mark Williamson
Re:hmm (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Sometimes... (Score:3, Interesting)
Granted, given her situation, she might have been dead in a year without a transplant, and 10 or 15 years is better than one. But transplants shouldn't be the final answer. Transplants should be more like asprin: a stopgap measure to continue functioning normally until the body finishes healing itself. Unfortunately, transplants are pretty final these days, and no healing can occur afterwards...
Re:I wish they had given my Rachel one... (Score:2, Interesting)
- A study that showed that doctors tended to dismiss patient complaints about drug side effects
- An article by a WSJ journalist covering medical issues where the first oncologist dismissed any suggestions from her.
I guess in some cases it comes to down to the skill level of your medical staff and while that is a horrible way to put it I'm beginning to wonder if it might not be true.
Re:I wish they had given my Rachel one... (Score:2, Interesting)
Coincidentally enough, her name was also Rachel.
The news in the article are truly awesome. There may not be enough hearts for everyone, but at least with this machine they'll all get a better shot at pulling through, instead of just staying there waiting helplessly.