Colombian Physicians Implant the First Corheart 6 in the Americas, the World’s Smallest Artificial Heart

• The recipient of the procedure is a 31-year-old woman who was facing advanced heart failure caused by Chagas disease.
• The procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary team at HIC Cardiovascular Institute in Colombia, positioning the country as the first in the Americas to use this innovative technology.
• Thanks to its more compact and advanced design, the device expands therapeutic options, even for pediatric patients.

Bucaramanga, Colombia, July 2025. What began in 2022 with persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, frequent vomiting, and a growing sense of suffocation ultimately changed the life of María Angélica Bonett, a nursing assistant from Ocaña, a city in northeastern Colombia. When she sought medical help, her symptoms were initially attributed to anxiety and post-COVID-19 sequelae, which delayed an accurate diagnosis.

Although she visited several medical centers, she was unable to obtain a clear assessment, and her health continued to deteriorate. It was at HIC Cardiovascular Institute in Bucaramanga where physicians finally identified severe cardiomegaly—an enlargement of the heart caused by Chagas disease, a parasitic infection transmitted by the triatomine bug that continues to silently affect thousands of people across Latin America.

For two years, María Angélica lived with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and required permanent medication. By May of this year, however, her body had reached its limit. Conventional treatments were no longer an option: she needed either a heart transplant or ventricular assist device (VAD) support—an artificial heart.

She was hospitalized for nearly two months, during which specialists presented her with two options: join the heart transplant waiting list or receive a VAD implant. Given the complexity of her case and the limited availability of donors, the second alternative—the implantation of the Corheart 6, the smallest and most advanced artificial heart developed to date—proved to be the most viable.

Teamwork in service of life

From the patient’s selection and preparation to the surgery and postoperative care, the procedure involved a multidisciplinary team of cardiovascular surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, nursing staff, and biomedical engineers. The team also received guidance from a German specialist with extensive experience in this type of implantation.

With this procedure, Colombia has become the fourth country in the world to implant the Corheart 6, following Germany, China, and Austria—marking a milestone in the country’s cardiovascular medicine.

“We are pleased with the results, but above all, with the opportunity to continue saving lives. Until now, only one option was available in Colombia. The arrival of this new device, because of its size, technology, and versatility, significantly expands therapeutic alternatives, even for pediatric patients,” said Dr. Leonardo Salazar Rojas, Director of the ECMO and Ventricular Assist Program at HIC Cardiovascular Institute.

It is important to note that the Corheart 6 operates under the same principle as other ventricular assist devices on the market, using a continuous-flow pump connected to the heart through an external driveline that powers it from an external energy source. One of its main advantages is its design: it measures just 5.5 cm in length and 2.8 cm in diameter, and weighs 90 grams, making it the smallest artificial heart in the world.

Time to live

According to Dr. Lorena Montes, the cardiovascular surgeon who led the procedure, “María Angélica was the ideal candidate due to her clinical condition and physical characteristics. The surgery was a success and, just a few hours later, she was awake, hemodynamically stable, and tolerating oral intake. She is now recovering and preparing to return home.”

Beyond the clinical success, this is the story of a woman who, after losing her independence, her job, and much of her quality of life, can now dream again. “When they told me my heart couldn’t go on, I felt like time had run out. I was scared, I cried a lot, I thought of my parents… but I never lost faith. Now I’m not just thinking about surviving; I’m thinking about living. I want to learn dressmaking, work with my hands, and feel useful,” says María Angélica.

The Corheart 6 gives her not only life, but time. Time to wait for a transplant, to heal, and to rebuild her life project. “These devices are not just a bridge to transplant; in many cases, they can become destination therapy, allowing patients to live for years with a good quality of life,” explains Dr. Montes.

María Angélica’s story is a testament to the power of medical technology and teamwork—but also to perseverance and hope.