In a groundbreaking medical achievement, a 63-year-old patient has become the first person in Israel to receive a fully artificial heart, doctors at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem announced this week.
The complex, seven-hour operation involved the complete removal of the patient’s natural heart, which was replaced with a state-of-the-art artificial heart made of titanium. The device also incorporates biological tissues from animals and sophisticated sensors to mimic the function of a human heart.
Globally, only 114 such artificial heart transplants have been carried out to date.
The cost of the life-saving device was NIS 1.6 million (approximately $455,472), fully funded by Clalit Health Services, the patient’s healthcare provider.
“This is a major milestone for Israel—something that has never been done before,” said Professor Ofer Amir, senior cardiologist and director of Hadassah’s Heart Institute, who led the surgical team.
The successful procedure marks a significant advancement in the field of cardiac medicine in Israel and opens the door to new treatment possibilities for patients with end-stage heart failure.
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