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clock: Partial heart transplant successfully helps infant grow
Duke Health doctors have found medical evidence that an infant who received what they call “the world’s first partial heart transplant” is not only alive but thriving a year after the breakthrough treatment. A new study published in the journal Nature reports breakthrough results. Journal of the American Medical Association.
Owen Monroe was born with a heart defect that required his heart valves and arteries to be repaired. The boy underwent the first treatment to address this problem in the spring of 2022, 17 days after his birth.
Now, doctors report that his heart valves and arteries are growing as if they were his own.
“This was completely uncharted territory,” Dr. Joseph W. Turek, director of pediatric cardiac surgery at Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center in Durham, North Carolina, told “Good Morning America.”
Read more: Baby receives first-of-its-kind heart transplant to fight rejection
Doctors integrated the donated heart’s arteries and valves into Owen’s heart, hoping the partial transplant would improve his symptoms once and for all. The heart parts came from another living baby who needed a full heart transplant, but that baby’s natural heart had functioning valves and arteries.
Other treatments were not ideal for Owen. A prosthetic valve would require multiple replacements as Owen grows, and each surgery carries a significant risk of death. Whole heart transplants carry similar risks, requiring lifelong treatment with immunosuppressants and anti-rejection drugs, which can lead to life-threatening complications.
“What we found is that in partial heart transplants, it’s about a quarter of that dose, and it’s not really a life-changing dose,” Turek said.
Owen’s parents described the time leading up to their son’s partial transplant surgery as “horrifying”.
“He went into stage 4 heart failure within hours of his birth,” said Taylor Monroe, Owen’s mother.
Owen’s father Nick Monroe added: “He didn’t really have much of a choice.”
Read more: Infant receives first-of-its-kind heart transplant after two open-heart surgeries
In the end, doctors decided that Owen’s best treatment was a partial heart transplant.
“I hit them hard. [question]”I said, ‘Have we done this before?’ And they said, ‘With five piglets,'” Taylor-Monroe said. And I said, “I think Owen will be your first.” And we just have to believe and trust them. ”
Owen’s partial heart transplant surgery took eight hours to complete. Twenty-eight days after the procedure, the boy was able to return home.
Owen is now thriving and doctors are optimistic he won’t need any additional surgery.
“The fact that he almost made it is the most amazing thing,” Nick Monroe said.
“We are forever, forever grateful to our donor family. Truly, Owen wouldn’t be here today,” Taylor-Monroe added.
The Monroes said they have been in touch with the family of Kane Pacciotto, whose heart valve and artery were donated to save Owen. Pacciotto’s mother said she wants to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
The success of Owen’s case subsequently paved the way for 12 other children to receive life-saving treatment. The procedure involves donating an intact valve from a weakened heart to another recipient, allowing the donor to undergo a complete heart transplant. This is a technique known as dominoes. Heart transplant.
“It literally changed the world. It’s incredible to be a part of that,” Taylor Monroe said.
Duke Health said doctors hope to bring the partial transplant treatment option into full clinical trials as “the next step in achieving treatment volumes that will significantly change heart availability.” Ta.
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