Jarvik-7: The First Permanent Artificial Heart in History

Charles Kirby Manuyag

PUBMAT | Anthony Beronque

DID YOU KNOW?

The 2nd of December in 1982 marks the day the first permanent artificial heart was implanted. Mr. Barney Clark, who was too sick to be eligible for a heart transplant, becomes the first human recipient of a permanent artificial heart as this was his only option. The heart, called the Jarvik-7, was implanted at the University of Utah by Dr. William DeVries.

At the age of 61, a Seattle dentist named Mr. Barney Clark suffered from congestive heart failure. In the interest of advancing Science, he agreed to undergo surgery and survive with the artificial heart for about 112 days.

He didn't expect that he would survive more than a few months with his new heart. He was alive but miserable, for infections constantly plagued him as he also suffered from chronic clotting, which led to a series of strokes. The problem was common with artificial heart devices as the sized air compressor left the patient virtually immobilized, leading to the threat of infection and associated pulmonary problems.

Jarvik-7, a plastic and titanium artificial heart, employed a heart-shaped pump. Portions of the atria or upper pumping chambers of the heart are left in place upon the removal of the human heart as the artificial heart is snapped to the cuffs sewn to the remaining portions of each atrium.

Moreover, an Indiana man named Bill Schroeder was the second one to receive Jarvik-7. Like Mr. Barney Clark, he initially responded well to the surgery but soon caught up with the complications which led to his death.

To this day, the artificial heart has still not yet been proved as an effective permanent heart replacement. They are used to bridge the time to heart transplantation, but the permanent use of such still comes a long way of advancements in science and technology.

References:

https://www.wired.com/2009/12/dayintech-1202jarvikheart/

https://apnews.com/article/f95891b976a389103d2d97c0bb1e6b78/