Heart Care Info - Heart Disease Prevention & Treatment

Brazilian Pioneers in Artificial Organs and Heart Surgery

AA Leirner... - Artificial Organs, 2012 - Wiley Online Library The University of Minnesota played a chief role in the development of modern heart surgery. It was there that Dr. Walton Lillehei carried out the first procedure with cross circulation. In 1955, he started using extracorporeal circulation (ECC) with the help of an oxygenator ...

Those were times when low socioeconomic conditions prevailed in Brazil, and rheumatic valve disease was frequent in youngsters, making prosthetic valves a great need. In 1960, Albert Starr had performed the first successful ball valve prosthesis replacement in the mitral position. In 1964, fabrication of these valves began in Brazil through the initiative of talented Dr. Adib Jatene. By mid 1965, 300 Brazilians were already living with implanted Brazilian made heart valves. They were sold in Brazil for 30 dollars vs. 300 dollars in the USA. But mechanical valves were associated with persistent thromboembolic complications, and the problem of utilizing and controlling anticoagulation was unworkable for the financially deprived Brazilian patients. We were facing around 30% of thromboembolic complications with these mechanical valves, recalls Puig.