Total Artificial Lung Saves Man Whose Lungs Liquefied

Northwestern Medicine doctors used groundbreaking technology to keep patient alive until lung transplant

Jan. 29, 2026 at 1:23pm

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Doctors at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago were able to save the life of a young man whose lungs had liquefied due to a severe infection, using a total artificial lung device to sustain him until he could receive a life-saving lung transplant.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential of total artificial lung technology to save lives in extreme medical emergencies where a patient's own lungs have been completely compromised. As this device becomes more advanced, it could dramatically improve outcomes for those awaiting lung transplants.

The details

The patient, whose identity was not disclosed, was admitted to Northwestern Medicine in critical condition after a severe infection had essentially liquefied his lungs, leaving him unable to breathe on his own. Doctors quickly determined that a lung transplant was his only chance at survival, but he would need to be kept alive in the meantime. They turned to a total artificial lung device, which took over the full function of his damaged lungs, oxygenating his blood and removing carbon dioxide until a donor lung became available.

  • The patient was admitted to Northwestern Medicine in critical condition in January 2026.

The players

Northwestern Medicine

A renowned academic medical center in Chicago, Illinois that is at the forefront of innovative medical treatments and technologies.

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What’s next

Doctors will continue to monitor the patient's progress as he recovers from the lung transplant surgery.

The takeaway

Groundbreaking medical technologies like total artificial lungs are enabling doctors to save lives in previously untreatable situations, offering hope to those facing the most severe lung diseases and injuries.