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World's first man lives for a month without a heart or a pulse

News - Mar 4, 2024
World's first man lives for a month without a heart or a pulse

In a remarkable medical case, a man named Craig Lewis made headlines for the first person in the world can live an entire month without a heart or a pulse. 

This incredible feat made possible through a radical experimental surgery, has captured the attention of the medical community and sparked discussions about the future of life-saving technology.

Craig Lewis lived for a month without a heart or a pulse. Image Credit: ABC News
Craig Lewis lived for a month without a heart or a pulse. Image Credit: ABC News

Craig underwent radical surgery and survived without a heart or a pulse

According to reports, a man known as Craig Lewis miraculously survived for an entire month without a heart or a pulse after undergoing radical surgery.

Craig Lewis was suffering from a rare autoimmune disease called amyloidosis, which causes a build-up of abnormal proteins in the body and leads to organ failure.

To live longer than only 12 hours, Craig decided to undergo an innovative heart procedure developed by doctors at the Texas Heart Institute.

The man underwent radical surgery to prolong his life. Image Credit: ABC News
The man underwent radical surgery to prolong his life. Image Credit: ABC News

The device keeps Craig alive even though he has no heart or pulse

The procedure involved the use of a device created by Dr. Billy Cohn and Dr. Buz Frazier.

This device utilized whirling rotors to pump blood throughout the body, eliminating the need for a traditional heart. While the device had been successfully tested on animals, Craig was the first human to undergo this procedure.

In March 2011, Craig's heart was removed, and the mechanism was installed in his body.

The device to keep his life was installed in his body in 2011. Image Credit: ABC News
The device to keep his life was installed in his body in 2011. Image Credit: ABC News

Although there was no pulse, Craig miraculously survived the operation and gradually recovered. His wife, Linda, described how she could hear a hum instead of a heartbeat when she listened to his chest.

Craig still died of amyloidosis after surviving for a month thanks to a mechanical heart

However, after a month with the mechanical heart, Craig's amyloidosis started to attack his liver and kidneys. 

Unfortunately, he passed away in April of that year.

Craig still died from the incurable disease amyloidosis despite receiving a mechanical heart transplant. Image Credit: ABC News
Craig still died from the incurable disease amyloidosis despite receiving a mechanical heart transplant. Image Credit: ABC News

Despite the tragic outcome, Linda expressed that it was worth it because Craig had wanted to live, and they didn't want to lose him.

Before performing the procedure on Craig, the doctors had tested the device on 38 calves, including an eight-month-old calf named Abigail. 

Although she failed every analysis metric used to evaluate patients, the experimental procedure kept Abigail alive.

The device had previously successfully helped an 8-month-old calf survive before being performed on Craig's body. Image Credit: ABC News
The device had previously successfully helped an 8-month-old calf survive before being performed on Craig's body. Image Credit: ABC News

Dr. Cohn emphasized that although there was no heartbeat or pulse, Abigail was a vibrant and playful calf.

This case is considered proof of the potential of the innovative device in prolonging human life even without a functioning heart.