Man’s Life Saved with Artificial Lung and Breast Implants Following Vaping Illness
Davey Bauer, a 34-year-old man from Missouri, found himself in a life-threatening situation after years of vaping led to severe lung damage. A bout of the flu landed him in a hospital where doctors determined that a double lung transplant was his only hope for survival. However, before he could undergo the procedure, he needed time to recover without his infection-ravaged lungs.
In a groundbreaking move, doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago fashioned a temporary lung to keep Bauer alive. But they faced a unique challenge – both failing lungs needed to be removed, leaving a void that could cause the patient’s heart to collapse upon itself. In an unprecedented approach, surgeons used DD-breast implants to support his chest cavity and prevent these complications.
According to Dr. Ankit Bharat, who oversaw the innovative surgery, this was the first time such a strategy was used in a double-lung transplant. While the method may not become a widespread standard, it offers a viable option for difficult cases, as was seen with Bauer.
Bauer’s struggles began in April after he caught the flu and found himself struggling to breathe. Rushed to the hospital by his girlfriend, Susan Gore, Bauer’s condition worsened over several weeks until he received his life-saving surgery.
After a slow and miraculous recovery, Bauer is now focused on regaining his health and rediscovering his passions for snowboarding and skateboarding. He remains grateful for the second chance he has been given and is determined to never vape again, having experienced first-hand the devastating consequences of the habit.