A groundbreaking surgery in Wuhan has made medical history. A 7-year-old Chinese boy received a magnetically levitated artificial heart, making him the youngest patient in the world to do so.
Doctors performed the operation at Union Hospital under Tongji Medical College. The surgery used the smallest and lightest heart device available. The artificial heart weighs only 45 grams and has a diameter of 2.9 centimeters.
The young patient, known as Junjun, suffered from end-stage heart failure. Doctors diagnosed him with dilated cardiomyopathy in May 2024. His condition worsened quickly, leading to severe cardiogenic shock.
Doctors struggled to find a matching donor heart. Junjun’s O blood type made the search especially difficult. As time ran out, the medical team chose a magnetically levitated artificial heart as the only option.
Cardiac surgeon Dong Nianguo led the five-hour procedure. Junjun began breathing unassisted the following day. Doctors reported a steady improvement in his heart function.
Junjun’s father expressed deep gratitude to the hospital staff. He said, “Thanks to the doctors, our child now has a chance to survive and wait for a transplant.”
In China, about 40,000 children suffer from severe heart failure annually. Around 10 percent of them urgently need heart transplants. However, the number of available donor hearts remains very low.
Most artificial hearts were previously built for adults. These models either damage blood cells or lack features for child-sized bodies. Pediatric patients require unique designs.
Recognizing this, Union Hospital began developing a pediatric-specific device in 2021. They partnered with Shenzhen Core Medical Technology to create a third-generation magnetically levitated artificial heart.
This new device offers many improvements. It uses little power and features a longer battery life. It also ensures stable operation during emergencies and allows real-time speed adjustments for better circulation.
Dr. Xia Jiahong, hospital president, praised China’s recent achievements. He noted that China now leads in several areas of heart disease treatment.
This successful surgery offers new hope to young patients. It also proves that innovation can change lives in pediatric cardiac care.
