Two artificial hearts well received at medical center

Arizona Daily Wildcat

Two men are doing well after receiving artificial heart implants at University Medical Center over the weekend.

The 44- and 45-year-old men, both Phoenix residents, were the fourth and fifth recipients of the CardioWest artificial heart at UMC. The operation was led by Dr. Jack Copeland, UMC chief of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery.

"Everything went according to plan," said UMC spokeswoman Judy Elam. She said the patients are progressing at the normal pace for the operation.

The three previous recipients of the CardioWest device Ä Sharoyn Loughran of Scottsdale, Gaylord Booth of Phoenix and Wallace Kay Jr. of Moapa, Nev. Ä all are currently living at home.

The families of the two men asked that their identities be withheld.

UMC has had 15 artificial heart implants since 1985.

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