Four hours after the three-hour surgery, Su Qing came round and heard her own heart beating normally in her chest.

The artificial heart implanted in her body for over 48 days was removed in Shanghai East Hospital on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old local university student is happy to restart her new life. Also cheerful are chief surgeon Liu Zhongmin and his assistants.

The surgery to remove the partially transplanted artificial heart is the first successful case in China and Asia, showing how the artificial heart methods have developed into a mature technology in this country.

On July 25, Su's heart suddenly stopped beating due to serious inborn thicken cardiomyopathy, which is characterized by very narrow left ventricular and outflow obstruction.

"During the emergent treatment, Su's heart stopped working over 10 times. She had to depend on the artificial heart to maintain her life," said Liu.

After 48 days of rest, Su's heart had recovered its functions and is capable of supporting blood flow without the assistance of the artificial heart.

Doctors said Su's physical condition is quite normal after surgery, her blood pressure is normal, and abnormal symptoms have disappeared.

The artificial heart process is an advanced medical technology developed in the last 10 years. It is a new area in China.

Besides heart transplants, the technology holds out hope for many serious heart disease patients at late stages, when drugs and other medical treatments fail.

"The artificial heart provides the patient with another survival chance, allowing the heart to recover its function," said Liu.

In China, about 1 million patients die of heart failure every year and only 30 patients have been lucky enough to be implanted with matched hearts.

Headed by Liu, Shanghai East Hospital has made impressive strides in this field. Four patients have been implanted with artificial hearts in the hospital.

In another ward of the hospital lies 34-year-old Ding Xiaolan, who has survived eight months after being implanted with an artificial heart, the longest lifespan of such patients in Asia.

The woman was the first patient implanted with the artificial heart in Asia on January 18. She had been suffering from severe dilated cardiomyopathy.

"The imported artificial hearts are quite expensive, and we're exploring the products on our own to save more patients," Liu said.

(China Daily 09/20/2001)