For the first time in Kazakhstan in the National science cardiac surgery center a unique, expensive surgery for implantation of the Left Ventricular Assist Device, which is sometimes called the artificial heart, was held.

It should be noted that this technology haven’t been conducted neither in Russia, nor in Central Asia.

The operation was conducted in November 7^th, 2011 for 42-years-old resident of Astana Marat Shimbalov. Due to the previously earlier diseases his heart worked for less than a quarter of its capacity and could pump only 2 liters of blood per minute. Without drastic actions, Marat could not survive more than a few months. Today due to the Left Ventricular Assist Device , the heart of Marat can pupm up to 5 liters of blood per minute, which corresponds to norms.

Implantation of the artificial heart was performed by the international team led by the famous cardiac surgeon, Head of the National center of cardiac surgery - Yuriy Pya. Together with him the implantation was performed by his foreign colleague from Prague, Czech Republic, Professor Jan Pirk. Today more than 7000 of such devices are implanted all over the world. The implantable device of the assisted circulation allows to the patient to lead a normal life and do the favorite job.

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) is a miniature pump with the size of an usual battery, with two tubes, one of which is connected to the aorta and the other is connected to the left ventricle of the heart. When implanting the pump functions as the left ventricle, which is the biggest and most powerful chamber of the heart, it provides organs and tissues with the blood.

Unlike the usual heart the LVAD motor pumps the blood continuously without pulsing rhythm. That is why the majority of patients such as Marat Shimbalev have no pulse. As a consequence, they always have to wear special warning signs in the form of bracelets with the warning notes, so when the loss of consciousness happens, people who help to such patients, will not think that they're dead. In the future it is expected that with the help of an artificial heart it will be possible to save many lives in Kazakhstan.