The first heart transplant goal is to remove a diseased heart from a patient. Hence, they need the healthy heart of a dead donor. It is mostly for patients experiencing heart failure. It is a condition that makes the heart very weak. Therefore, it is unable to perform an important function like the pumping of blood. When it goes through the end stage, it means that it is very serious. The only way to save the person is through a heart transplant.
Overview
It is an open-heart surgery to save a life for people who are in end-stage heart failure. However, it is not an easy procedure because of limited heart donors. A person who needs a new heart goes through a selection process. It is important before they can consider them as a recipient. A patient must be very sick to receive a new heart. Also, they need to be in good health condition to receive it.
Luckily, with medical technology, the rate of survival from the first heart transplant increases overtime. Almost 88 percent who receive a new heart survive the first year after it. Also, 75 percent survive until five years and 56 percent ten-year survival. Right after the procedure, patients can go back to their normal daily activities. However, only 30 percent of them can return to work.
1. First 1967
It was on December 3 when they did the very first human open-heart surgery. A South African doctor does it, and his name is Christiaan Barnard from Cape Town. However, the patient only lives for 18 days, and he is Louis Washkansky. The second patient of the same doctor, live for two years.
2. 1970-1971
During these years, the progress of the procedure comes to a stop. There is a big decrease in the number of patients who want to try the process. It is because of the difficulty in survival after it. The medical field agrees to stop and do more studies.
3. 1979
It is during this year when the first heart transplant happens in the United Kingdom. It was in Papworth Hospital, and the doctor name Sir Terence English performs it. Hence, it was Keith Castle, the patients who receive a new heart on August 18 live for more than five years. It was also in 1979 when they did another two successful heart transplant.
4. 1980
A British Heart Foundation was established in Papworth by the heart surgeon Terence English. The government also decided to fund more studies to find out the cost and benefit of the surgery.
5. 1981
There is a big improvement during 1981 by Sir Magdi Yacoub, also a heart surgeon. He manages to increase the success rate of the operation.
6. 1982
Furthermore, it is during this year when they recorded the longest-living heart recipient. He received a new heart at the age of 39 and died at 73 in 2016.
7. 1984
The very first heart transplant in a child was a success. It took place in New York at Columbia Hospital. The patient was four years old, and he did another surgery when he was 10. According to some records, the person lives until 2006.
8. 2006
In 2006 was they use a beating heart. In the past, the heart is put at 4 degrees. However, today, they can keep the heart warm with enough supply of blood. Also, it can increase the chance of a successful transplant.
9. 2015
It was this year when the UK use the first non-beating heart. It can increase the number of hearts available for patients who need it.
10. The Proces
Today, there are many new developments. It is easier to get a heart transplant than before. A doctor can refer a person for a heart transplant if they have heart failure. However, it still needs to go through some tests. Once it gets the approval of a doctor’s team, then the person needs to wait for a donor.
It is done inside a hospital with a complete facility and experienced heart surgeon. Right after the surgery, a person will start a lifetime health care plan. It includes a lot of medicines and regular check-ups.
11. Waiting List
It is a process that most patients need to go through. Hence, it is to ensure that organs are given to all who need it. Also, one needs to match with the donor blood type. Also, a donor needs to have a consent form signed by relatives. Furthermore, the donor should be younger than 65 years old without any history of heart illness and health.
