VALHALLA, N.Y. (August 21, 2024) – A Westchester Medical Center cardiothoracic surgeon has become the first physician in the Hudson Valley, and one of the first on the eastern coast of the United States, to perform a procedure that transplants a heart while it is still beating.
In the procedure, the heart is procured from the donor and kept warm and beating mechanically during transport and transplantation. This innovative approach reduces potential damage to the heart caused by a lack of blood flow. By maintaining the heart’s warmth and rhythm, it remains viable for longer travel periods.
"The Engine is Still Running"
As the heart is moving during transplant, the surgery is complex and requires a surgeon skilled in the procedure. Suguru Ohira, MD, Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Director of Thoracic Aortic Disease Research at Westchester Medical Center performed the procedure, which Dr. Ohira likens to “installing a car engine while the engine is running.”
Ricardo Acuna, a 62-year-old with no prior heart issues, was the first patient to undergo this “beating heart” transplant at Westchester Medical Center. Ricardo’s journey began when he experienced swollen feet during a family trip to Florida. After consulting a doctor, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Despite medication and a pacemaker, his condition deteriorated, necessitating a heart transplant. Thanks to Dr. Ohira’s successful procedure, Ricardo is now on the path to recovery.
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| Ricardo Acuna with partner Ana. Ricardo is the first patient in the region to receive a beating heart transplant. |
Ricardo’s partner, Ana, expressed gratitude for the exceptional care provided by Westchester Medical Center. She emphasized the medical expertise and the compassionate bedside manner of the doctors and nurses.
“Without the wonderful team at Westchester Medical Center, I wouldn’t have Ricardo with me. I’m more than grateful,” said Ana.
A New Approach to Heart Transplant Surgery
A recent study confirms that the “beating heart” transplant method is safe and effective, potentially improving survival rates and minimizing the need for post-surgery mechanical heart support.
“The beating heart procedure greatly reduces the occurrence of typical complications,” said Dr. Ohira. “This leads to better outcomes for heart transplant patients.’’
Dr. Ohira also explained that use of the beating heart transplant method can also increase the pool of donors, since hearts can be transported longer distances with less damage.
For years, the traditional approach was to transplant hearts that were taken from patients who had irreversible loss of brain function (“brain dead” donors), but the viability of those hearts was only between four to six hours.
Heart Failure Solutions
The cardiothoracic surgeons and heart failure cardiologists at Westchester Medical Center have decades of experience in heart transplant surgery and the surgical management of heart failure. The program consistently ranks in the top fifteen percent of heart transplant programs in the world, in terms of volume.
Patients on a heart transplant waiting list at another hospital may be considered for a beating heart Those seeking to learn more about beating heart transplant qualifications, to schedule an appointment with a heart failure specialist or to refer a patient should call 914.493.7632.
About Westchester Medical Center Health Network
The Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) is a 1,700-bed healthcare system headquartered in Valhalla, New York, with nine hospitals on seven campuses spanning 6,200 square miles of the Hudson Valley. WMCHealth employs more than 12,000 people and has nearly 3,000 attending physicians. The Network has Level I (adult and pediatric), Level II and Level III trauma centers, the region’s only acute care children’s hospital, an academic medical center, several community hospitals, dozens of specialized institutes and centers, Comprehensive and Primary Stroke Centers, skilled nursing facilities, home-care services and one of the largest mental health systems in New York State. Today, WMCHealth is the pre-eminent provider of integrated health care in the Hudson Valley. For more information about WMCHealth, visit WMCHealth.org or follow WMCHealth on Facebook.com/WMCHealth, and Instagram.com/WMCHealth.