STORY SUMMARY
Los Angeles – Andrea Bara and her husband Moes once took evening walks for granted until Andrea’s Lupus-related heart complications made even simple tasks exhausting. Her heart grew so weak that she needed a transplant, which arrived in August. Undergoing an experimental procedure, Andrea received a new heart that never stopped beating, thanks to a high-tech device by TransMedics. This “heart box” keeps the donor heart beating during transport, potentially extending preservation time and expanding donor pools. Dr. A.S. Ardali at UCLA leads the research, which involves 128 patients across the United States. After her successful surgery, Andrea’s life is slowly returning to normal, allowing her to enjoy regular activities once again. “It’s awesome,” she said, reflecting on her renewed ability to walk around the neighborhood.
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FULL STORY
Andrea Bara and her husband Moes have experienced a life-changing journey, which began when Andrea’s Lupus diagnosis led to severe heart complications, making even simple daily tasks exhausting. Her deteriorating heart necessitated a transplant, which she received in August via an experimental procedure. This groundbreaking surgery involved a machine developed by TransMedics, which kept the donor heart beating from donation until it was implanted in Andrea. This new technology provides continuous circulation of blood, maintaining the organ’s viability during transport.
Dr. Abbas Ardehali, who leads the research at the University of California, Los Angeles, is managing a study involving several hospitals across the United States to test the efficacy of the heart box. Traditionally, harvested hearts are placed on ice, racing against time as they are quickly transported to recipients. This method has a preservation window of around eight hours, beyond which the heart risks significant deterioration. TransMedics’ heart box aims to extend this duration by keeping the heart functional and beating, potentially increasing the distance a donor heart can travel to reach patients in need and widening the donor pool.
Following her surgery, Andrea’s recovery has been promising. Regular biopsies and ultrasounds indicate her body is accepting the new heart seamlessly. She now enjoys the return of normal activities, such as neighborhood walks, which she and Moes had taken for granted before her health deteriorated. As the study progresses, involving up to 128 patients nationwide, each has a chance of benefiting from this innovative transplantation method, which could revolutionize the success rates and logistics of heart transplants in the future.
