On This Day February 19 1985 - William J. Schroeder Became the Second Human to Receive an Artificial Heart

On this day, February 19, 1985, William J. Schroeder made medical history as the second human to receive a permanent artificial heart. Unlike the first recipient, Barney Clark, who received his artificial heart on December 1, 1982, but remained hospitalized until his passing, Schroeder became the first artificial heart patient to leave the hospital and return to a semi-independent life.

Schroeder received the Jarvik-7 artificial heart, a groundbreaking device designed to sustain patients with severe heart failure. His implantation was performed at Humana Heart Institute International in Louisville, Kentucky, by Dr. William DeVries. He initially showed promising signs of recovery and even made public appearances, marking a significant milestone in medical technology.

Despite complications, including strokes and infections, Schroeder lived for 620 days with the artificial heart, significantly longer than previous patients. His experience paved the way for further advancements in artificial heart technology, influencing future generations of heart-assist devices used today.

80s insight: The Jarvik-7 artificial heart used compressed air to pump blood, requiring Schroeder to remain connected to a large external power source.