The Universitari i Politècnic La Fe Hospital in València has achieved a patient reaching 10 years with an implanted mechanical heart, becoming the longest-living case in Spain. The story of this person, Gervasio Ortiz, has been one of the central themes of the ‘LVAD: 10 Years with my mechanical heart’ event held at the center, highlighting the «efficacy and durability» of these devices, as well as the improvement in the quality of life for patients with severe heart failure who have them.
The event was inaugurated by the regional health secretary, Begoña Comendador, who described it as «a celebration and gratitude towards the multidisciplinary teams whose dedication, commitment, and effort make stories like Gervasio’s possible,» describing him as «an example of strength.»
The regional health secretary shared the stage with the head of the Cardiovascular Surgery Service at La Fe, Juan Martínez León; the head of the Anesthesiology and Resuscitation Service, and director of the Anesthesia, Resuscitation, and Surgical Block Clinical Area, Pilar Argente; the head of the Cardiology Service, Luis Martínez Dolz, and the manager of the Valencia Sur and La Fe interdepartmental health grouping, José Luis Poveda, as reported by the Generalitat in a statement.
Poveda emphasized the importance of innovation «always putting the patient at the center.» «It is not just technology for the heart but technology with heart,» the manager affirmed.
Also present were surgeons José Anastasio Montero (cardiac) and José Mir (hepatic), representing the medical teams honored for their pioneering contributions in this field.
In fact, in 2014, under Dr. Montero’s leadership, La Fe Hospital became the first Spanish public hospital to implant one of these devices, and since then, 33 implants have been performed, positioning the Valencian center as a «national benchmark» in advanced Circulatory Mechanical Assistance.
INCREASE IN SURVIVAL
Gervasio Ortiz is a resident of Elche who has had the same Left Ventricular Assist Device (‘HeartWare’ LVAD) since July 15, 2015. During this time, he has achieved a «better quality of life» that has allowed him to celebrate his golden wedding anniversary with family and friends and enjoy his grandchildren.
The eldest grandson is aware of the circumstances and warns the others: «If you hug grandpa, be careful with the shoulder strap,» he tells them to avoid damaging the system’s peripheral components, as recounted by the center. Like other grandparents, Gervasio takes care of his grandchildren when their parents are working. He accompanies them to the park, where he has coffee while they play, and occasionally joins in their games by kicking the ball around.
«In the decade that Gervasio has had the VAD device, advances in surgical techniques, such as minimally invasive mini-thoracotomies that replace large incisions, have reduced post-surgical complications, such as the need for transfusions,» explained Circulatory Mechanical Assistance coordinator Salvador Torregrosa.
Mechanical hearts, such as ‘HeartWare’ and ‘HeartMate’ 3, operate through magnetic levitation, using magnets to keep them floating without friction, and are placed in the lower left part of the heart, where they push blood towards the aorta, the body’s main artery.
The mechanical heart is connected via a cable that exits through the abdomen to a small computer that the patient must always carry with them, running on rechargeable batteries. This device powers the pump and enables monitoring and control of the patient once they are at home.
FOLLOW-UP
For proper monitoring, La Fe has a specific assistance unit that oversees the patient’s treatment and progress. In fact, the program’s success is the result of the coordinated work of a multidisciplinary team, led by specialists like Juan Martínez León, Luis Almenar, and Salvador Torregrosa, and comprised of medical and nursing staff from Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Anesthesia, Intensive Care, and Hematology.
Their work and dedication since 2014 have resulted in a substantial improvement in the survival of people who need a mechanical heart because their health is «so delicate that they are not suitable for organ transplantation.» The two-year survival rate in these patients has increased from 8 percent with pharmacological treatment to around 80% with the most advanced mechanical heart models.
These devices are used both as a bridge to transplantation and as a definitive therapy for those who are not eligible for organ donation, and «in either of its two indications, La Fe consolidates its position as a national benchmark in innovation and hope for patients with severe heart failure,» according to the hospital’s manager.
