Brigham and Women's, and UI Hospitals and Clinics begin certification for SynCardia artificial heart implantation

SynCardia Systems, Inc. (www.syncardia.com) announced today that Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and University of Iowa (UI) Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa, have begun certification to implant the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart. Brigham and Women's will complete Phase I of certification on Nov. 1 & 2, and UI Hospitals and Clinics completed Phase I on Oct. 21 & 22.

• Brigham and Women's Hospital: Brigham and Women's is ranked #7 among the Best Hospitals in Heart and Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report. The heart transplantation program is the oldest and largest in New England. Since performing the region's first heart transplant in 1984, Brigham and Women's has performed over 500 heart transplants, more than any other program in the region. The hospital now follows the largest population of patients surviving heart transplantation.
• UI Hospitals and Clinics: In 2009, UI Hospitals and Clinics performed 18 heart transplants and achieved a one-year survival rate of 100%. The hospital's median waiting time for a heart transplant is approximately 9 months. Since 2009, UI Hospitals and Clinics have implanted 22 ventricular assist devices and have discharged 18 of these patients to enjoy life at home.

Currently, there are 13 SynCardia Certified Centers in the U.S., with an additional 9 U.S. hospitals undergoing certification. Around the world, there are 33 SynCardia Certified Centers, with an additional 15 international centers undergoing certification. SynCardia Certified Centers are located in Germany, Italy, France, Australia, Russia, Austria, Turkey, Sweden and Canada and the U.S.