A 33-year-old man in the United States survived for 48 hours without lungs, a rare medical feat made possible by a specially designed artificial lung system. The technology served as a temporary replacement, bridging the gap until a donor lung became available, offering a potential lifeline for patients facing severe respiratory failure.
The groundbreaking case, initially reported by SciTech Daily, stems from research published in the journal Med.
Doctors leading the case, a team of thoracic surgeons from Northwestern University, explained that the procedure represents a new hope for individuals with critically damaged lungs.
Initial Flu Infection Led to Critical Condition
The patient’s ordeal began with a case of the flu, which rapidly deteriorated after developing into bacterial pneumonia. He was subsequently diagnosed with severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a condition where severe inflammation causes the lungs to fill with fluid, hindering effective oxygen supply.
The extensive lung damage triggered a cascade of organ failures. His heart and kidneys began to fail and his heart even stopped upon arrival at the hospital, requiring resuscitation.
Doctors determined that a double lung transplant was the only remaining chance for survival. Though, the patient’s condition was too unstable for immediate transplantation. His lungs were beyond saving, with severe infection causing permanent tissue damage and spreading throughout his body. While lung transplants are typically performed on patients with chronic illnesses like interstitial lung disease, this case presented a unique challenge.
Molecular examination of the patient’s lungs revealed extensive scarring and immune damage, making natural recovery impossible. Without a transplant, survival was deemed highly unlikely.
Artificial Lung Support System
To buy time for recovery before a potential transplant, the medical team made the decision to completely remove both of the patient’s lungs. In their place, they utilized an artificial lung support system. This innovative technology is capable of:
- Adding oxygen to the blood
- Removing carbon dioxide
- Maintaining circulation to ensure the heart could continue to pump blood effectively
For a full 48 hours, the patient lived without lungs inside his body. The artificial system sustained vital functions, stabilizing his blood pressure, allowing other organs to recover, and controlling the infection.
After two days, a suitable donor lung became available, and the medical team promptly performed a double lung transplant.
Return to Normal Life
More than two years after the surgery, the patient has reportedly returned to a normal life with good lung function. This case also provides the first biological evidence, based on molecular examination, that early consideration of lung transplantation may be beneficial for some patients with ARDS.
Currently, this complex procedure is only available at hospitals with specialized facilities, and teams. Researchers hope that more standardized devices will develop into available in the future, allowing more patients with catastrophic lung failure to be saved while awaiting organ donation.
The patient’s case demonstrates that, in certain circumstances, living without lungs is medically possible—even if it’s not naturally sustainable. (SciTech Daily/Z-1)
