Chicago docs use breast implants to carry out profitable double-lung transplant on 34-year-old man

A 34-year-old Missouri man was just lately saved by surgeons at Northwestern Medication in Chicago who used breast implants to efficiently carry out a double-lung transplant.

Davey Bauer, 34, whose nickname is now “Double D Davey,” began smoking cigarettes when he was 21 years outdated, and usually smoked a pack of cigarettes a day. 

Bauer, who enjoys staying lively by snowboarding, skateboarding and {golfing}, stated that he switched to vaping in 2014, hoping for a “more healthy different.”

“Vaping felt higher, and I believed it was the more healthy different, however in all honesty, I discovered it extra addicting than cigarettes,” Bauer stated.

Davey Bauer in November 2023 following the surgical procedure. (Northwestern Medication)

Regardless of switching to vaping, Bauer grow to be extraordinarily unwell in Might and was rushed to the emergency room.

“I felt a bit of wanting breath, was coughing up a number of secretions. However aside from that, I imply, I felt fairly regular till the weekend, and that was similar to I did not have any power,” Bauer stated in a video launched by Northwestern Medication. “Principally, Suzanne introduced me into the E.R. and I do not keep in mind a lot after that.”

Davey Bauer and his girlfriend, Susan Gore, throughout his restoration at Northwestern Medication in July 2023. (Northwestern Medication)

Dr. Rade Tomic, pulmonologist and medical director of the Northwestern Medication Canning Thoracic Institute Lung Transplant Program, stated that Bauer’s lungs have been so contaminated that they “began to liquefy.”

“Davey’s lungs have been so closely contaminated that they began to liquefy. In the event you checked out his X-ray, there was nothing left — the lungs have been fully stuffed with puss,” Dr. Tomic stated.

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Dr. Ankit Bharat, chief of thoracic surgical procedure at Northwestern, stated that surgeon’s knew that Bauer wanted a double lung transplant.

“It was very clear to me that he wanted a double lung transplant, but it surely was additionally very clear that he wouldn’t survive that transplant,” Dr. Bharat stated. “And the one means ahead there was to in some way do away with these lungs, as a result of as soon as the lungs get so illness and broken, you can not clear them.”

The breast implant utilized in Davey Bauer’s surgical procedure. (Northwestern Medication)

Medical doctors used breast implants to maintain Davey Bauer’s coronary heart within the middle of his chest. (Northwestern Medication)

In Might, Northwestern Medication Canning Thoracic Institute surgeons eliminated Bauer’s contaminated lungs, created a synthetic lung to maintain him alive, positioned DD breast implants inside his chest cavity to maintain the guts in place.

As soon as the contaminated lungs have been eliminated Might 26, Bauer’s physique instantly began clearing the an infection.

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Surgeons additionally listed Bauer for a double-lung transplant and surgeons discovered a match inside 24 hours.

“Nonetheless to today, I can’t imagine Davey lived with none lungs. He was respiratory, blood pumping with out lungs,” Bauer’s girlfriend, Susan Gore, stated. “Whereas we waited inside his hospital room at Northwestern, I might take a breath in and say, ‘one breath for me and one for Davey.’ It’s laborious to wrap my thoughts round it, and I’m nonetheless in awe that Davey was ready to do that — it really exhibits his energy.”

Davey Bauer holding up a shirt together with his new nickname, DD Davey. (Northwestern Medication)

Dr. Bharat stated that he believes that this new expertise will “open a number of doorways” for sufferers who’ve “no different choices.”

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“Davey’s case is outstanding as a result of it exhibits that we are able to hold sufferers alive after eradicating their lungs by means of new expertise, which could be transformative for a lot of critically unwell sufferers,” Dr. Bharat stated in a press launch. “With this new method that we’ve developed, many sufferers who get to the purpose of needing a lung transplant — however their broken lungs are making them too sick to get one — can now probably get transplanted. I believe it’s going to open a number of doorways for a lot of sufferers who haven’t any different choices.”

Members of Davey’s lung transplant crew. (Northwestern Medication)

Bauer stated that he’s grateful to be alive and stated that if he might return in time, he would have by no means began smoking or vaping.

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“I’m so grateful to be alive and know I wouldn’t be right here right this moment with out the help of my girlfriend, household, associates and my Northwestern Medication transplant crew who by no means gave up on me,” Bauer stated. “Whereas we don’t have definitive methods of proving my years of vaping brought about my medical situation, docs do know for a proven fact that vaping causes lung harm. 

“If I might return in time, I by no means would have picked up a cigarette or vape pen, and I hope my story can assist encourage others to give up, as a result of I wouldn’t want this tough journey on anybody.”