ONA/
A specialised Omani medical team at the National Heart Centre of the Royal Hospital has successfully implanted an artificial heart for a patient suffering from severe heart muscle failure. This landmark procedure—the first of its kind at the centre—marks a significant breakthrough in the development of advanced heart-failure treatments in the Sultanate of Oman.
The surgical team, led by Dr Waleed bin Amer Al Badi and Dr Qasim bin Saleh Al Abri, completed the operation in four hours, followed by a period of intensive medical care until the patient’s condition stabilised and she was able to leave hospital. She will continue her follow-up programme with the centre’s heart-failure specialists.
Dr Al Badi, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at the Royal Hospital, explained that the artificial heart device was implanted into the left side of the heart. The device supports the heart’s natural pumping function and enables efficient blood flow to the body’s organs. He noted that the procedure does not require removing the patient’s heart; instead, it involves implanting a mechanical assist device that enhances the heart’s performance, helping patients regain their previous levels of activity and vitality.
Dr Al Abri, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at the National Heart Centre, expressed his satisfaction at introducing this advanced category of procedures into the centre’s surgical services. He emphasised that artificial-heart implantation represents a major step forward in the treatment of patients with severe heart failure. These procedures serve either as a transitional stage towards full heart transplantation or, in some cases, as a permanent therapeutic option.
He added that the primary objective of these operations is to improve patients’ quality of life, relieve debilitating symptoms, and better prepare them for future transplant procedures.
The patient expressed her deep gratitude to the medical team, noting that she had suffered from severe fatigue and difficulty performing daily activities prior to the procedure, and that her health had improved markedly following the surgery.
The artificial heart is regarded as one of the most advanced treatments for patients with end-stage heart muscle failure. It can be used as a bridge to human heart transplantation or, for certain cases, as a long-term solution.
The introduction of this technology represents a major addition to the centre’s specialised services, following its successful adoption of minimally invasive cardiac surgery and human heart-transplant procedures. These achievements reflect the ongoing efforts of national medical professionals to expand and enhance specialist cardiac care in the Sultanate of Oman.
This milestone operation constitutes a qualitative leap in the country’s cardiac and surgical services and reaffirms the capability of Omani medical cadres to keep pace with the latest global medical practices.
This achievement forms part of the National Heart Centre’s wider commitment to adopting advanced medical technologies, strengthening integrated healthcare, and supporting the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 to develop the health sector and improve quality of life for citizens and residents.