History Is Made with First Small LVAD Implant for Young Muscular Dystrophy Patient

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Newswise DALLAS March 26, 2014 Today, were going to make history, said 18-year-old Eric Ramos on the day UTSouthwestern Medical Center doctors operated on his ailing heart. Eric, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is one of only three patients in the United States with the condition to receive a battery-operated left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to keep his weakening heart pumping blood through his body. He is the first patient in the country to be given a specific, smaller LVAD, which means doctors would not need to manipulate his diaphragm, which could compromise his already limited pulmonary function.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a recessive X-linked form of the disease, affects around 1 in 3,600 boys. Diagnosed at age 6, Eric has used a wheelchair for the past seven years because his muscles, including his heart and lungs, are rapidly degenerating. Nevertheless, Eric has the heart of a champion. He views his latest challenge as an unreal accomplishment and says he is honored to be part of history, paving the way for other Duchenne patients with advanced heart failure.

Lead surgeon Dr. Dan Meyer, Professor of Cardio Thoracic Surgery and Director of Mechanical Assist Devices, says it took a team to pull Eric through this historic feat. We had cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, LVAD coordinators, neurologists, pulmonologists, social workers, nutritionists, and a host of nurses and others excited to be a part of this unique opportunity, Dr. Meyer said. Delivering advanced medical care to patients like Eric is something you can only do at an institution like UTSouthwestern, where we have the experience and the specialized care to perform higher-risk surgeries that other hospitals would not even entertain.

The decision to operate, however, was not easy. The team members recognized the severity of the situation, but they were put at ease the moment they met Eric. A senior in high school, Eric spends his free time playing video games, tinkering with computers, and hanging out with his friends, just like most teenage boys. But Eric exudes maturity well beyond his years.

We could see that Eric is a vibrant young man, despite the fact that he is bound to a wheelchair, Dr. Meyer said. The tough part was making sure we would increase his quality of life and that undergoing surgery was worth the risks.

Because of his faith, Eric says he was cool, calm, and collected the day of his surgery. Hope canceled out my anxiety and fear, Eric said. I knew that I was making history, and that one day people were going to read about my case, and to me, it felt good to be a trailblazer.

Another person in Erics corner is Dr. Pradeep Mammen, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the division of cardiology and Medical Director of the Neuromuscular Cardiomyopathy Clinic at UTSouthwestern.

Dr. Mammen is one of Erics biggest advocates. A heart failure/transplant cardiologist with special expertise in the cardiovascular complications that can occur in patients with neuromuscular disorders, Dr. Mammen spent countless hours conducting background research on all the key components needed to ensure Eric would thrive pre- and post-LVAD implantation.

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History Is Made with First Small LVAD Implant for Young Muscular Dystrophy Patient