Bauer's body showed signs of healing and recovery within hours of the procedure.
Davey Bauer's severe lung damage was a result of smoking, vaping, and contracting the flu.
Doctors at Northwestern Medicine used breast implants to keep Bauer's heart in place, making him eligible for a double lung transplant.
Davey Bauer, a 34-year-old man who had severely damaged his lungs due to a combination of smoking, vaping, and contracting the flu, had his life saved by an innovative medical procedure at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. The procedure involved the use of large breast implants as a temporary measure to keep Bauer's heart in place while his body fought off a virulent strain of Pseudomonas infection. This allowed him to become eligible for a double lung transplant.
Bauer's condition had deteriorated rapidly due to the infection, leading to the need for a double lung transplant. The procedure was carried out by Dr. Ankit Bharat and his team at Northwestern Medicine, who have a history of successful double lung transplants on people with severe infections and late-stage cancer.
During the procedure, Bauer's blood was drained and a new circulatory system was recreated, with artificial lungs keeping him breathing. The breast implants were used to prevent his heart from collapsing inside the chest cavity after his infected lungs were removed. This innovative solution gave Bauer's body time to fight off the infection and showed signs of healing and recovery within hours of the procedure. He was listed for a lung transplant within a few days and successfully received new lungs.
This is potentially the first instance of such a practice, which could save people with severe lung infections. It is important to note that Bauer had initially believed vaping to be a healthier alternative to smoking, which led to his severe lung damage.
Bauer's condition was a result of a combination of smoking, vaping, and not getting vaccinated against the flu.
The procedure was carried out by Dr. Ankit Bharat and his team at Northwestern Medicine, who have a history of successful double lung transplants on people with severe infections and late-stage cancer.
His condition deteriorated rapidly due to a virulent strain of Pseudomonas infection.
Bauer's blood was drained and a new circulatory system was recreated, with artificial lungs keeping him breathing during the process.
Bauer's body showed signs of healing and recovery within hours of the procedure. He was listed for a lung transplant within a few days and successfully received new lungs.