Haydon Now Suffering Kidney Damage

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Artificial heart recipient Murray P. Haydon is suffering from kidney damage and his doctors said Wednesday they are considering hooking him to a dialysis machine, a process considered risky for such patients.

“Mr. Haydon’s kidneys are continuing to function, but they are deteriorating slowly, according to (Dr. William C.) DeVries,” said Jeffrey Hutter, a spokesman for Humana Hospital-Audubon.

“Haydon is not now on dialysis,” Hutter said. “We are currently discussing the treatment with the family.”

Haydon’s condition had “deteriorated somewhat” in the past six days, said Donna Hazle, another spokeswoman for the hospital. She said the damage to his kidneys was caused by a chronic respiratory infection.

Hazle emphasized that doctors are not sure how badly the kidneys have been damaged.

Dialysis is considered risky for artificial heart patients because it increases the chance of infection and requires physicians to administer more blood thinning drugs.