Dim Amor

A new page in Israeli medical history was written this week at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, when the first complete and successful artificial heart transplantation was performed in Israel. The complex surgery, which lasted seven hours, saved the life of a 63-year-old patient who could not undergo a regular heart transplant due to his medical condition.

The groundbreaking surgery was led by Professor Ofer Amir, Director of the Heart Disease Institute at Hadassah, who defined the procedure as "an unprecedented milestone in Israeli medicine" that opens new horizons in treating severe heart failure. With the completion of the successful surgery, Israel joins the ranks of the few countries worldwide capable of implementing such breakthrough medical technologies.

The surgery began with thorough preparation that included professional training in France, attended by members of the medical team from Hadassah alongside local cardiac surgeons and representatives of the French company that manufactured the artificial heart. At the crucial moment, the extensive medical team operated with precise coordination between two operating rooms simultaneously: in the first operating room, preparation of the artificial heart for transplantation began—a sensitive and precise process that also included adding artificial valves to the device. Simultaneously, in the second operating room, the complex surgery began with the removal of the patient's diseased natural heart and connection to a heart-lung machine that kept him alive.

The artificial heart itself represents an advanced technological marvel made of titanium combined with biological tissues of animal origin. The device includes an advanced sensor system that enables full and precise functioning of the circulatory system and can completely replace the function of the natural heart. The cost of each such heart stands at 1.6 million shekels, approximately $455,000, and this expense is fully covered by Clalit Health Services.

With the preparation of the site for implanting the new artificial heart, the heart was carefully transferred to the operating room where the patient lay. The medical team implanted the device and gently connected it to the main blood vessels in the patient's body. Gradually, the grip of the heart-lung machine was reduced and support from the new heart was increased, until the patient was completely disconnected from the ventilator and the artificial heart began operating fully without dependence on external equipment.

The complex surgery required perfect coordination between an extensive medical team that included cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anesthesia and intensive care specialists, operating room nurses, and heart-lung machine technicians. During the surgery, the patient's heart was completely removed from his body and replaced with the special artificial heart—a process requiring supreme surgical precision and extensive medical experience.

The Israeli medical success comes when only 114 such surgeries have been performed worldwide to date. This achievement establishes Israel's position as a leading medical power and demonstrates the high professional level of Israeli physicians and technological advancement in the country. The Israeli healthcare system continues to advance confidently at the forefront of global achievements, with such accomplishments strengthening its international standing in the field of advanced medicine.

Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, a leading university medical center, published an official statement after the surgery stating: "We made history. For the first time in Israel—an artificial heart transplant that completely replaced the patient's heart was successfully performed this week at Hadassah. The life of a 63-year-old patient was saved thanks to the complex operation".

The successful artificial heart transplant not only saved a human life but also opens the door to treating additional patients suffering from severe heart failure who are not suitable for regular heart transplantation. The advanced technology provides a medical solution for complex cases where conventional treatments are insufficient or unsuitable.

This is another significant step in the development of the transplantation field in Israel and in strengthening the national healthcare system. The medical achievement demonstrates the professional excellence of Israeli medical teams and their ability to deal with complex and groundbreaking medical challenges. The successful surgery provides hope for many additional patients and establishes Israel's place on the map of advanced global medicine.

The innovative technology and Israeli medical expertise create a unique combination that enables offering advanced medical solutions to patients in critical conditions. The first artificial heart transplant in Israel symbolizes not only a personal medical achievement for the patient but also a significant leap forward for the entire Israeli healthcare system.

The successful surgery opens a new chapter in treating advanced heart diseases in Israel and provides renewed hope to patients and their families. This medical achievement strengthens Israel's position as a leading nation in medical innovation and life-saving technology development, while demonstrating the high level of Israeli medicine and commitment to human life.

Photo: Hadassah University Medical Center – in accordance with Section 27A of the Copyright Law