Living by plastic heart

Surgeons at the Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire, I just put in Matthew Green's chest, an artificial plastic heart.

In 1980, doctors first used artificial hearts but patients had to stay at the hospital to be monitored. But with this remarkable progress, plastic artificial hearts have made a 'revolution' of life. The patient can return home with a 6kg handheld controller in his backpack.

Mr. Matthew Green has fun with his wife and children and a bag containing plastic heart control machine - Photo: BBC

Currently Mr. Green, 40 years old, is in the stage of waiting for a heart transplant and due to his lack of proper heart, he must temporarily use plastic heart. With this plastic heart, patient Matthew Green can climb stairs, walk and return to normal life. However, doctors recommend that this artificial heart should not be used for too long because it can cause infection.

The success of Mr. Green's shift has opened the door to hope for patients with severe heart failure, needing a heart transplant to continue life.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, added that it is not always appropriate for patients to have a heart, this success marks an important step in the medical industry.