Turkey's 1st Pediatric Patient to Receive the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart Celebrates 18th Birthday

TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Turning 18 years old is an important milestone in any young man's life, but even more so for Yusuf Enec (photo). This time last year, Yusuf wasn't sure he'd live to see it. However, thanks to the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart, today he has the chance to celebrate.

"Before the operation, I was so weak that even turning newspaper pages was too difficult for me," said Yusuf. "But now, I can play soccer with my artificial heart."

Yusuf was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure affecting both sides of his heart (biventricular failure) in January 2012 at Dokuz Eylul University Hospital in Izmir, Turkey. His condition deteriorated quickly and he became dependent on inotropes, which are medicines that increase the force of the heart's contractions, and his kidneys began to fail.

On Oct. 17, 2012, Yusuf, then 17, became Turkey's first pediatric patient to receive the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart. The surgery was performed by Prof. Oztekin Oto in order to save Yusuf's life and bridge him to a heart transplant. His recovery went well and six weeks after the implant surgery, he was switched to the Freedom® portable driver, the world's first wearable power supply for the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart. He surpassed eight months of support with the Freedom driver on July 26.

"We have observed better quality of life and lower complication rates with the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart compared to other biventricular devices," said Prof. Oto. "This system is very good for pediatric patients suffering biventricular failure who have enough space for the Total Artificial Heart."

SynCardia recognizes and thanks Ufuk Yaranli and Natura Medikal Urunler Ltd., the Turkish distributor for the Total Artificial Heart, for their commitment and ongoing support of the six SynCardia Certified Centers in Turkey and the additional three Turkish hospitals currently undergoing SynCardia's four-phase certification process.

The Freedom portable driver is CE approved for use in Europe and undergoing an FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study in the U.S.

CAUTION – The Freedom portable driver is an investigational device, limited by United States law to investigational use.

About the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart
SynCardia Systems, Inc. (Tucson, AZ) is the privately-held manufacturer of the world's first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE approved Total Artificial Heart. Originally used as a permanent replacement heart, the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart is currently approved as a bridge to transplant for people suffering from end-stage heart failure affecting both sides of the heart (biventricular failure). There have been more than 1,100 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, accounting for more than 300 patient years of life on the device.

Similar to a heart transplant, the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart replaces both failing heart ventricles and the four heart valves. Unlike a donor heart, the Total Artificial Heart is immediately available at SynCardia Certified Centers. It is the only device that eliminates the symptoms and source of end-stage biventricular failure.

The Total Artificial Heart provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 liters per minute through each ventricle. This high volume of blood flow helps speed the recovery of vital organs, helping make the patient a better transplant candidate.

Forbes Ranks SynCardia #69 Among "America's Most Promising Companies"
In its February 2013 issue, Forbes selected SynCardia as one of "America's Most Promising Companies" for the second consecutive year. On the list of 100 privately held, high-growth companies with bright futures, SynCardia was selected #69, moving up eight spots from its #77 ranking last year. See the full list of SynCardia Awards & Recognition here.

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SOURCE SynCardia Systems, Inc.