Tallaght woman in unique heart operation
Wednesday, 18 November 2009 23:06
A 37-year-old woman from Tallaght in Dublin has been discharged from the Mater Hospital following a unique heart operation.
Elaine O'Hara is the first person in Ireland to have a new type of artificial heart pump surgically implanted.
The mother-of-four had been suffering with a heart malfunction for several years and was not suitable for a heart transplant.
Until now, artificial heart machines were very big units and patients were attached to them in hospital while waiting for a transplant.
The small heart pump used in Mrs O'Hara's case, which cost €90,000, means she can be at home and lead a more normal life.
Mater Hospital Cardiac Surgeon Freddie Wood said the device had a life spend of between ten and 15 years and no parts would require replacement.
The eight-hour operation was performed in August and Mrs O'Hara had been in hospital ever since.
