WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | German-Designed Artificial Heart Gives Toddler New Lease On Life
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By Lori Lyle
(INDIANAPOLIS, February 23rd, 2004, 5 p.m.) -- Surgery to implant an experimental artificial heart is giving a toddler's family new hope. It's a medical miracle that happenned in Indianapolis. WAVE 3's Lori Lyle has the story.
The 22-month-old is recovering in Indianapolis, following a breakthrough surgery where doctors used a device not yet approved by the FDA. But with the help of little Reilly, other children may soon get the extra help their tiny hearts need too.
Tina and Harrison Whitler are parents full of happiness, fear and anticipation. Their 22-month-old son, Reilly, who was near death a few weeks ago, now has a chance of living a normal life.
"He's a lot healthier, his heart is functioning properly now, knowing he's got a good chance of making it through everything," Harrison says.
Doctors believe a viral infection almost caused Reilly's heart to fail. He has been kept sedated since Jan. 9.
On January 25th, in what doctors call a last-ditch effort to save the boy's life, surgeons attached to Reilly's infected and failing heart an artificial heart not normally available in the U.S. called the "Berlin Heart."
The German Berlin Heart is half the size of the smallest artificial heart available in the U.S., which doctors say are far too large for small children.
The Riley Hospital For Children obtained special FDA approval to use the smaller Berlin Heart to take over the boy's natural heart functions while it healed.
Dr. Mark Turrentine, a pediatric heart surgeon," says "the prognosis for his heart is quite good." But doctors are guardedly optimistic. The boy's lungs were also infected, and he's not breathing on his own. Plus, he's heavily sedated.
And reduced blood flow prior to the surgery may have caused brain damage.
"As we get him off the ventilator, we will get a better sense of what his overall prognosis will be," Dr. Turrentine says. And that can't come soon enough for Reilly's parents. Harrison says they hope to "ave him home by his birthday next month."
Hospital officials say Reilly is listed in serious but stable condition, and he is continuing to improve.
Online Reporter: Lori Lyle
Online Producer: Michael Dever
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