Schroeder’s Bleeding Stops, Tests Show : Heart Recipient’s Condition Critical Day After Brain Hemorrhage

Tests showed Tuesday that bleeding in William J. Schroeder’s brain had stopped, one day after hemorrhaging forced the longest-living artificial heart recipient to end his 30-day stay outside the hospital, officials said.

Schroeder was reported in critical but stable condition at Humana Hospital Audubon, and doctors said he was alert and responsive to verbal commands.

A CAT scan, a series of computer-enhanced X-rays, taken Monday revealed the bleeding in Schroeder’s brain, said Bob Irvine, Humana Inc. public relations director.

Donna Hazle, the hospital’s director of public relations, said a second CAT scan test Tuesday confirmed that the bleeding had stopped. She said she was unable to get any further details from doctors.

Few Details Disclosed

Irvine said implant surgeon William C. DeVries and Schroeder’s other doctors did not immediately want to disclose details of Schroeder’s condition, including where the bleeding occurred and the possible causes.

Hazle said it might be some time before doctors perform tests to determine whether Schroeder suffered lasting brain damage.

Dr. J.P. Salb, the Schroeder family’s physician for the last 20 years, said the hemorrhage was on the left side of the brain, which controls the right side of the body. He stopped in Louisville on Monday on his way home to Jasper, Ind., after a trip.

It was not known whether Schroeder suffered a stroke, which Salb said can be caused by a hemorrhage.

Moving Hands, Arms

“He is alert. He is able to move hands, arms--we’re not seeing some of the classic stroke symptoms,” Irvine said.

A cerebral hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel breaks or blood seeps out of its normal channels, resulting in too much blood washing over the brain. A stroke occurs when a clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain.

Tuesday was Schroeder’s 164th day with the Jarvik-7 heart, which was not affected by the hemorrhage, Irvine said.

Schroeder, 53, the only artificial heart recipient to be discharged from the hospital, had been living in a nearby apartment since April 6. He was readmitted after the initial CAT scan detected bleeding.