UCSF Performs First Heart Transplant for Patient with Artificial Heart

The 37-year-old patient received a total artificial heart in August before undergoing the successful transplant procedure three months later.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:50pm by Ben Kaplan

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San Francisco-based UCSF Health has completed its first heart transplant for a patient who previously received a total artificial heart. The 37-year-old patient was admitted in August with end-stage heart failure and underwent a six-hour surgery to implant the mechanical heart. He was discharged in September and then underwent an eight-hour transplant procedure three months later.

Why it matters

UCSF's successful heart transplant for a patient with a total artificial heart demonstrates the hospital's expertise in advanced cardiac care and its ability to provide life-saving treatments for patients with the most severe heart conditions. This case highlights the progress being made in artificial heart technology as a bridge to transplant.

The details

The total artificial heart replaces both heart ventricles and serves as a bridge to transplant. UCSF Health has implanted four of the devices to date. Cardiac surgeons Amy Fiedler, MD, and Jason Smith, MD, performed both the artificial heart implantation and the subsequent transplant procedure.

  • The patient was admitted to UCSF in August 2026 with end-stage heart failure.
  • The patient underwent a six-hour surgery to receive the total artificial heart in August 2026.
  • The patient was discharged from the hospital in September 2026.
  • The patient underwent the eight-hour heart transplant procedure in November 2026, three months after receiving the artificial heart.

The players

UCSF Health

A San Francisco-based academic medical center and health system that has expertise in advanced cardiac care, including the use of total artificial hearts as a bridge to transplant.

Amy Fiedler, MD

The surgical director of the heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support program at UCSF Health.

Jason Smith, MD

The chief of cardiac surgery and lung transplantation at UCSF Health.

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What’s next

UCSF said it also plans a clinical trial of the BiVACOR device that recently received FDA breakthrough status.

The takeaway

This case highlights the progress being made in artificial heart technology as a bridge to transplant, and UCSF's position as a leader in providing innovative and life-saving cardiac care for patients with the most complex heart conditions.