Recipient of Artificial Heart Out of Hospital

A 51-year-old man who last year became the world’s fifth recipient of a self-contained artificial heart has been released from a Philadelphia hospital to a nearby hotel, doctors said.

James Quinn, 51, was released last week from Hahnemann University Hospital, 70 days after being implanted with the AbioCor artificial heart.

The retired baker and grandfather from West Philadelphia was put up at a hotel about three blocks from the hospital, with caregivers in an adjoining room.

Hahnemann is one of five sites participating in studies involving the AbioCor, which has been implanted in six patients who were dying of heart failure and too sick to qualify for human heart transplants. Three of the patients have died, two of organ failure and one of massive bleeding during the surgery.