Young Brazilian lived for 35 days with two hearts

Um young brazilian lived for 35 days with two hearts after having undergone a transplant technique developed by a brazilian surgeon. 

Marcelo, a history student, was diagnosed with severe heart failure and severe pulmonary hypertension three years ago. At the time, at the age of only 17, it was realized that given the severity of the situation, a heart transplant and also a lung transplant were needed. 

However, the possibility of performing an innovative procedure through a technique developed by the surgeon Fábio Gaiotto, says the Brazilian website g1. However, this technique allows treating pulmonary hypertension and replacing the heart without the need to perform a lung transplant. 

The Brazilian website explains that this new technique consists in connecting a donor's heart to the patient's heart, allowing the two to work simultaneously. Over time, pulmonary pressure begins to decrease and when the lungs improve, the patient's heart is removed, with only the ‘new’ heart remaining.

The story of Marcelo 

Marcelo, now 20 years old, arrived by helicopter at the Einsten Israelite Hospital in São Paulo, and was referred for surgery. The heart was then transplanted and the young man stayed with both hearts for 35 days. However, not everything was a sea of roses. 

During this month, Marcelo had two cardiorespiratory stops and it was necessary to intubate him. Then, he faced a long recovery due to muscle loss, having taken physical therapy to recover movements and the ability to stand, as well as regain his autonomy for daily activities.

Marcelo, notice, was not the first patient to submit to this new technique. The first procedure happened in 2021 with a 54-year-old patient. At the time, the man had 45 days with two hearts and, according to g1, will be in perfect health conditions. 

It should be noted that although the innovative technique has resulted in two patients, it is still under scientific evaluation.