New Generation Of Heart Pumps Gives Life To AGH Patients

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Hundreds of patients walk the halls of Allegheny General Hospital.

Walking may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to John Woods.

"Carrying this pack around," he said, "in fact, I haven't been real active yet. I get a little winded, but otherwise I am in pretty good shape."

His doctors think it's a pretty big deal.

"Just the fact that you are standing here and you walked into the clinic is a really good sign and we are excited about that," said Dr. Raymond Benza with Allegheny General Hospital, "and you have a smile on to beat, so we are doing good."

A few short weeks ago, John became the first person in Pennsylvania to have the Heartmate 3 Pump implanted. His heart problems began years ago. Bypass surgery in 2007, stints two years later.

"Defibrillator put in in 2011, and then this past winter, I had a bad cold and it affected the ability of my heart to work good, it kind of weakened the muscles," said John.

Doctors at AGH implanted the left ventricular assist device, or L-VAD. It is much smaller than previous versions and Mag-Lev technology creates wider pathways for the blood, which should reduce trauma to blood cells. They hope that means fewer blood clots. There is another critical difference: this pump creates an artificial pulse.

"The body is used to having a pulse, and that's the way all the blood vessels are built," said Benza. "The organs are built, they sense that pulse and that pulse allows them to auto-regulate the flow inside their own organs."

It could lessen internal blood stagnation and eliminate problems in very small blood vessels. For John and his wife Donna, the pump is a second chance.

"He had a lot of swelling before under his eyes and down his neck," said Donna. "That's all gone. He is walking better. He's breathing better. And I'm real excited for this spring."

And John Swears the pump saves his life every day.

"Without this, I wouldn't be here for a few more weeks," he said.

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