UNDATED (WHTC)-The University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor made history when cardiac surgeons replaced 24 year old Stan Lark in’s deteriorating heart with a totally artificial heart. Larking underwent replacement surgery in November and after spending the last several weeks in the hospital, was discharged this weekend. A backpack device enables Larking to move about.
The artificial heart is is the latest medical milestone in efforts to replace hearts that fail as heart disease grows and donor hearts remain scarce.Larkin suffered from right ventricular dysplasia, and in his situation his heart became weaker over time preventing proper blood flow and electrical rythym. Larking will live with the artificial device until a heart transplant match can be found for him. More than 3000 people currently await heart transplants in the United States.
