Israel performs first successful artificial heart transplants

Doctors in Israel have successfully performed the country’s first two artificial heart transplants, a breakthrough hailed as a major step forward in life-saving cardiac care, The Times of Israel reported on Saturday.

The surgeries took place on 25 May at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem and four days later at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan. The procedures involved implanting an Aeson artificial heart developed by French company CARMAT — a device that has been used in just 114 surgeries worldwide to date.

“This is a great step forward. It’s a historical moment,” said Prof. Rabea Asleh of Hadassah Ein Kerem, who led the first operation alongside colleagues.

The two male patients, one in his 50s and one in his 60s, were both suffering from biventricular heart failure and faced imminent death while waiting for donor hearts. The artificial hearts now serve as bridge transplants, keeping them alive until a human donor becomes available — a wait that could last months or even years.

Each artificial heart costs about NIS 2.1 million ($594,900) and was fully covered by Israel’s national health funds.

Doctors noted the device offers key advantages: unlike human transplants, it carries no risk of rejection. It also automatically adjusts to the patient’s activity level, allowing them to live relatively normal lives—including going outside, shopping, and even flying — though swimming remains off-limits.

Israel sees 30 to 40 heart transplants annually, with roughly 97 patients currently on the waiting list, according to the country’s National Transplant Center.

The success of these first two artificial heart implants offers new hope to thousands of heart failure patients in Israel and beyond.