Artificial heart boy leaves hospital

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Health bosses say they believe the longest a child has been treated with the device anywhere in the world is 30 days, as the longer the 'Berlin Heart' is connected the more difficult it becomes to remove.

The youngster was rushed to the flagship Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in March with heart complications. Surgeons diagnosed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle.

Freeman Hospital doctors said that about 30% of all youngsters with the condition do survive so the artificial 'Berlin Heart' was attached to the boy to see if his condition improved.

Had it not improved, his only chance would have been a heart transplant and the 'Berlin Heart', a device attached from outside the body to replicate a normal heart's functions, would have been used until a donor could be found.

On Friday, the boy, from the Lincolnshire area, is being discharged after a successful recovery.

A Freeman Hospital spokesman said: "The team decided to wait to see if the child's heart would recover before listing him for a transplant.

"The child was supported for 120 days on the 'Berlin Heart' before the device was removed.

"The longest known survival in the world of any child who has had a device fitted and then survived its removal is one month.

"Removing the device is a very difficult thing to do without damaging the heart when the device has been in situ for a prolonged period."