Heart TransplantHeart Transplant

History, Screening and History, Screening and OperationOperation

HistoryHistory

► 1933:1933: First human-to-human kidney transplant First human-to-human kidney transplant (kidney never functioned). (kidney never functioned).

► 1954:1954: First successful kidney transplant from one twin First successful kidney transplant from one twin to another with no anti-rejection drugs necessary. Dr. to another with no anti-rejection drugs necessary. Dr. Joseph Murray, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston. Joseph Murray, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston. (More kidney transplants between identical twins were (More kidney transplants between identical twins were performed immediately afterward, and some of those performed immediately afterward, and some of those kidney recipients are still alive.) kidney recipients are still alive.)

► 1967:1967: First successful liver transplant, Dr. Thomas First successful liver transplant, Dr. Thomas Starzl, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Starzl, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver. Denver.

► 1967:1967: World's first heart transplant, Dr. Christiaan World's first heart transplant, Dr. Christiaan Barnard, South Africa. Barnard, South Africa.

History cont…History cont…► 1968:1968: First successful heart transplant in United States, Dr. Denton First successful heart transplant in United States, Dr. Denton

Cooley at Houston's St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. Cooley at Houston's St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. ► 1968:1968: Uniform Anatomical Gift Act passed, creating the "Donor Card" Uniform Anatomical Gift Act passed, creating the "Donor Card"

and allowing families to consent to or refuse donation. It also and allowing families to consent to or refuse donation. It also prohibited doctors attending the donor from participating in organ prohibited doctors attending the donor from participating in organ removal or transplantation. removal or transplantation.

► 1978:1978: Uniform Brain Death Act passed, expanding for the first time Uniform Brain Death Act passed, expanding for the first time the traditional definition of death. "Brain death" IS death. the traditional definition of death. "Brain death" IS death.

► 1983:1983: Cyclosporine, a revolutionary anti-rejection drug, approved for Cyclosporine, a revolutionary anti-rejection drug, approved for commercial use, sparking a huge increase in transplants. commercial use, sparking a huge increase in transplants.

► 1984:1984: National Organ Transplant Act passed, prohibiting the sale of National Organ Transplant Act passed, prohibiting the sale of human organs and setting up a national transplant network to human organs and setting up a national transplant network to procure and distribute organs. The United Network for Organ Sharing procure and distribute organs. The United Network for Organ Sharing received the federal contract to oversee the network starting in received the federal contract to oversee the network starting in 1986. 1986.

► 1986:1986: "Routine request" law passed, requiring hospitals to give "Routine request" law passed, requiring hospitals to give families the opportunity to donate organs by asking them in families the opportunity to donate organs by asking them in appropriate cases. appropriate cases.

ScreeningScreening

►Basic questions are asked:Basic questions are asked:► Have all other treatments been considered and tried or ruled Have all other treatments been considered and tried or ruled

out?out?

► Will the patient die without a heart transplant?Will the patient die without a heart transplant?

► Is the patient in relatively good health?Is the patient in relatively good health?

► Will the patient keep a healthy lifestyle after the surgery?Will the patient keep a healthy lifestyle after the surgery?

OperationOperation

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/eheart/transplant.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/eheart/transplant.html

Hopefully this works. . .Hopefully this works. . .

ConclusionConclusion

► Many people don’t get the transplants they needMany people don’t get the transplants they need

► Not enough hearts are available.Not enough hearts are available.

► People who do get transplants don’t often live People who do get transplants don’t often live beyond 10 years.beyond 10 years.