First Artificial Heart Patient Discharged from Hospital
February 19th, 1985
February 19th, 1985
How Long Ago?
40 years, 24 days ago
Location
Houston, Texas, USA
Category
Health & Medicine
People
- William J. Schroeder
- Dr. Robert Jarvik
- Dr. Barney Clark
Links & References
Tags
First Artificial Heart Patient Discharged from Hospital
William J. Schroeder became the first person to leave a hospital after receiving an artificial heart. The groundbreaking procedure was performed by Dr. Barney Clark in 1982 on a different patient, but Schroeder became the first to walk out after the transplant. He had received the Jarvik-7 heart, which was developed by Dr. Robert Jarvik. His discharge from the hospital garnered significant media attention and marked an important milestone in medical history, providing hope for future advancements in heart surgery and artificial organs.
First use of artificial heart to leave hospital
Patient lived with artificial heart for over three months
Jarvik-7 heart was developed by Dr. Robert Jarvik
Increased focus on organ transplants and research
What Happened?
William J. Schroeder's discharge from the hospital represented a significant milestone in the field of medical technology and advancements in cardiac surgery. After receiving the Jarvik-7 artificial heart, he was able to leave the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Texas, signaling a major achievement in artificial organ transplantation. Before this event, the concept of artificial hearts was still largely experimental, and questions remained about the longevity and viability of such devices in prolonged use by human patients. The Jarvik-7, invented by Dr. Robert Jarvik, was designed to replace a failing heart and keep patients alive while they awaited heart transplants. William J. Schroeder, a 52-year-old man with severe heart disease, became the first recipient to leave the hospital after living with the artificial heart for over three months. His departure was pivotal as it demonstrated that patients could survive and experience a reasonable quality of life with an artificial heart, contributing to the ongoing development of cardiac care and artificial organ technology. Schroeder's journey sparked renewed interest in the field of transplant medicine, leading to more rigorous research, trials, and eventual improvements in artificial heart technology. His experience was closely monitored by medical professionals and the media alike, serving to educate the public about artificial hearts and the future of heart disease treatment. In the following years, further advancements would lead to newer models of artificial hearts and an increase in successful transplants.
Why Does it Matter?
The discharge of William J. Schroeder as the first recipient of an artificial heart marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of cardiovascular medicine. It offered a blueprint for how patients could survive on mechanical support, which paved the way for more sophisticated artificial heart devices. Not only did this event elevate understanding and acceptance of artificial organs, but it also raised awareness about heart diseases and the pressing need for organ transplants, influencing further medical research and innovation in this field.
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