First ‘artificial heart’ implant in Romania

A device that works like a pump and regulates cardiac flow, called an ‘artificial heart’, was implanted on a 44-year old patient at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplant (IBCvT) in Targu Mures. This medical intervention was a first in Romania. The implant was performed by Horaţiu Suciu – head of the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic within IBCvT Targu Mures, doctor Bojan Biocina from Croatia and doctor Peter Branecky from Germany, reports local Mediafax. The patient who received the ‘artificial heart’ had been on the transplant list for a year and a half, and his general condition was getting worse. The operation, which lasted over four hours, was successful. The device has a price of EUR 90,000 and the costs were supported by the National Health Insurance. Doctors now hope that the Ministry of Health or the National Health Insurance Department CNAS will initiate a national program, so that other patients suffering from this kind of heart problems to have a chance to such a medical intervention. So far, Romania was the only country in Eastern Europe where this procedure wasn't performed, reports local Digi24. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com