A surgeon managed to save a baby’s life by injecting stem cells into his heart to keep it working. Finlay, now two, from Corsham, Wiltshire, was the first baby in the world with a congenital heart defect to have stem cells injected into the muscle to help damaged blood vessels grow. After several other operations failed, Massimo Caputo, Professor of Cardiac Surgery and Consultant in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Bristol, successfully carried out Finley’s pioneering operation.
The professor is now using the same donor stem cells to develop ‘stem cell patches’ to repair abnormalities in blood vessel valves and heal holes between the heart’s two main pumping chambers.
Usually, artificial tissue is used in babies to repair the heart, but it can often fail or be rejected. It can also mean that children are likely to need more surgeries in the future.
Mr Caputoa hopes to use a bioprinter to create a patch of stem cells that can help the heart tissue to repair itself and grow in size with the child so that the child does not need as many open heart surgeries in my life.
The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation, aims to revolutionize the way surgeons treat children living with congenital heart disease.
Mr. Caputo hopes a clinical trial will take place within the next two years after successful laboratory work.
Finley’s mother, Melissa Hood, said: “We can’t thank Massimo enough. I believe that if it wasn’t for the stem cell treatment, Finley would not be here with us today.”
Finley, now two, was born with a congenital heart defect where the two main arteries supplying blood to the lungs and body are in the wrong position. At just four days old, he had to undergo his first open-heart surgery to restore the major arteries to their normal position.
“After a long 12 hours, Finley finally came out of surgery but he was reliant on a machine that took over the function of his heart and lungs,” Ms Hood said.
READ MORE: Mother of two stung with $16k Apple bill
During the complicated first operation, Finley’s heart began to deteriorate significantly as doctors tried a number of treatments. But he was forced into intensive care after the operation and relied on medication and a ventilator to support his heart.
Under a compassionate foundation, in a world first, Mr. Caputo used donor stem cells to inject them directly into Finley’s heart during a second surgical procedure in the hope that they would help the damaged blood vessels grow to enlarge blood supply to the left side of his heart.
“We almost lost Finley when he was just two months old,” Ms Hood said. “The doctors called us into a room and told us that they had done everything possible. Then Massimo came to find us and explained that there was one option left – to inject stem cells into the left side of Finley’s heart. He warned us that he could not predict what the outcome would be. But we had absolutely nothing to lose. We had to try to give Finley every possible chance to live.
“Within two weeks of the stem cell treatment, we noticed a change in Finley. He came home for the first time when he was just six months old with a machine that still helps him breathe at night.’
DON’T MISS: Royal family ready to hit back if Prince Harry launches more attacks [INSIGHT]Asda is recalling the popular meat product due to an urgent health scare [COMMENT]Ryanair shares travel tips to find the best seat on the plane [PICTURES]
Ms Hood described the planned stem cell patches as ‘amazing’, adding: ‘If they could donate life and save other families from the emotional turmoil of their children having repeated heart operations then it would be life changing. “
According to reports, there are around 200 re-operations for people living with congenital heart disease in the UK each year.
Stem cell patches could save the NHS around £30,000 for every operation that is no longer needed, saving millions of pounds every year. The British Heart Foundation has awarded Mr Caputo nearly £750,000 to get these patches ready for testing on patients so that clinical trials can start in the next two years.
The materials have already been shown to work safely in animals.
Add Comment