Patient Aided by Heart Pumps Undergoes Transplant Surgery

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —  Doctors Tuesday night transplanted a heart into a teen-ager and removed a pair of temporary plastic heart pumps that had kept him alive for five days, officials said.

Michael C. Jones, 16, who has been near death since an unidentified virus attacked his heart, had been attached to ventricular assist devices since Thursday to pump his blood. Doctors at Jewish Hospital have said his chances of surviving are 20%, even with the new heart.

The transplant surgery, which began at 8:45 p.m., was completed at 1:45 a.m. today, hospital spokesman David Fleming said. The donor heart began beating on its own about 11 p.m., he reported.

The spokesman had no information about the identity of the donor.

Jones was in critical condition after the surgery, Fleming said.

Doctors had expected the transplant to take longer than the normal four hours, because the heart assist devices and pumping equipment would have to be detached. Fleming said the surgery went smoothly and was completed in five hours.

“The medical team is upbeat, glad to be over this hurdle,” Fleming said.

Hospital officials have said only two transplants, both in California, have been performed after the use of a ventricular assist device.

The device is similar to an artificial heart, except that it is located outside of the body and does not replace the natural heart. It is attached to the upper heart chamber and aorta and is pumped by puffs of air to maintain the heartbeat.

The device is designed for temporary use until the heart heals or a transplant is possible.

Dr. Laman Gray Jr., who performed Thursday’s surgery and operated on Jones Tuesday night, believed the youth’s heart was beyond recovery, because of the strain from the virus.