ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Health

This 25-year-old carried his artificial heart in a backpack for a year before receiving a transplant

A 25-year-old from the US has been living without a heart for more than a year.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
June 8, 2016
in Health, News, Technology
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

The aliens are coming — up to 16% of all species have invasion potential
The Decline of the U.S. Empire: What Will Happen Next?
Medical errors ranked as the third leading cause of death in the United States
Sperm whales clans have different dialects

A 25-year-old from the US has been living without a heart for more than a year, carrying his artificial heart in a backpack with him – always. Now, he has finally received a heart transplant and seems to be doing fine.

After living more than a year with a wearable total artificial heart device, Stan Larkin, 25, returned to the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center for a heart transplant.
Credit: University of Michigan Health System

Any transplant operation is exceptional, but the case of Stan Larkin is absolutely amazing. After suffering from complete heart failure, he was left without a heart, and without a suitable donor – a common problem all throughout the world. So back in 2014, he was fitted with a Syncardia device – a temporary and completely artificial human heart.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster,” Larkin, 25, said at a news conference when he described living with the total artificial heart that was implanted to keep him alive until a donor heart became available.

He was the first patient to ever be discharged from the hospital with the device. While other implantable defibrillators can help with some partial heart failures, but Syncardia is used when both sides of the heart fail. It basically picks up on the heart’s functions, and Larkin wore it in his backpack for a year.

Larkin himself has pushed the technology beyond its known limits. Jonathan Haft, M.D., who performed the surgery, said:

“He really thrived on the device,” Haft said looking at a photo of Stan on a basketball court. “This wasn’t made for pick-up basketball,” he joked. “Stan pushed the envelope with this technology.”

Of the 5.7 million Americans living with heart failure, about 10 percent have advanced heart failure, according to the American Heart Association. Both Larkin and his brother Dominique had been diagnosed with familial cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart condition known for causing heart failure without any warning whatsoever.

“They were both very, very ill when we first met them in our intensive care units,” added Haft, from the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Centre. “We wanted to get them heart transplants, but we didn’t think we had enough time. There’s just something about their unique anatomic situation where other technology wasn’t going to work.”

The fact that this technology exists today, and was used successfully, is baffling. This is tomorrow’s technology taking shape today, and it can save lives – it probably just did.

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Genetics

Scientists Blasted Human Cells With 5G Radiation and the Results Are In

byTibi Puiu
8 hours ago
Genetics

Orange Cats Are Genetically Unlike Any Other Mammal and Now We Know Why

byTibi Puiu
8 hours ago
Chemistry

Scientists Found ‘Anti Spicy’ Compounds That Make Hot Peppers Taste Milder

byTibi Puiu
10 hours ago
Economics

In 2019, Iceland started experimenting with a shorter workweek. It’s been a resounding success

byMihai Andrei
10 hours ago

Recent news

Scientists Blasted Human Cells With 5G Radiation and the Results Are In

May 15, 2025

Orange Cats Are Genetically Unlike Any Other Mammal and Now We Know Why

May 15, 2025

Scientists Found ‘Anti Spicy’ Compounds That Make Hot Peppers Taste Milder

May 15, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.