A Milestone in Cardiac Care in Iraq: One-year Follow-up after the Nation’s First Continuous-flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation, Paving the Way for Heart Transplantation

The first successful implantation of the HeartMate 3 LVAD in Iraq represents a transformative achievement in the nation’s medical history. Conducted collaboratively by German and Iraqi teams in December 2023, the procedure addressed end-stage heart failure in a 60-year-old male. Despite significant healthcare challenges, the patient’s functional status improved markedly, moving from New York Heart Association Class IV to Class I within a year. This groundbreaking case highlights the potential for Iraq to integrate advanced cardiac interventions into its healthcare system, paving the way for heart transplantation programs. Ongoing collaboration and investment in healthcare infrastructure will be pivotal for sustaining these innovations.