Artificial Heart Patient Haydon Suffers Stroke

Murray P. Haydon was awake and alert today but his left side was “really hampered” by damage from an apparent stroke, the third suffered among the four mechanical heart patients of Dr. William C. DeVries.

Like fellow bionic heart patient William J. Schroeder, who has suffered two strokes, Haydon’s complication reflected the dilemma of trying to thin his blood enough to avert a stroke without causing spontaneous bleeding.

Barney Clark, the bionic heart pioneer who lived 112 days with his Jarvik-7, also suffered neurological problems after his 1982 implant.

DeVries’ fourth patient, Jack C. Burcham, did not suffer such problems but died within 10 days of his April 14 implant at Humana Hospital Audubon after clotted blood near his heart constricted his blood vessels.

DeVries has said repeatedly that strokes represent one of the biggest risks of the experiment.

Anti-Clot Medication

Jarvik-7 patients must receive medication to avert stroke-causing clots--which were blamed for Schroeder’s first stroke--while avoiding overly thin blood that can ooze into the brain, as in Schroeder’s second stroke.

Haydon, 58, a retired Louisville auto worker suffering from heart disease, received his Jarvik-7 on Feb. 17 and was described as the perfect candidate for the medical experiment because of otherwise good health.

Haydon was reported awake and alert today and responding to commands from DeVries and Dr. Gary Fox, his neurologist.

DeVries and Fox ordered a brain scan and other tests to determine the extent and possible cause of the apparent stroke.

Because his speech has been infrequent since a March 18 operation to place a breathing tube in his windpipe, it was uncertain whether the stroke had affected his speech, Audubon spokeswoman Donna Hazle said.