?Celebrating the Legacy of Heart Transplantation: A Journey of Determination and Progress.

1979 marked a year of significant change for heart transplant surgery in the UK 45 years ago. One which revolutionised heart transplant surgery to become what we know today.?

The beginning of heart transplant surgery?

South Africa had the first successful attempt of heart transplant surgery globally, and it was South African surgeon, Christiaan Barnard’s first successful heart transplant in 1967 which acted as a catalyst for more attempts at heart transplant surgery across the world.?

The first attempts at heart transplantation in the UK were performed by the surgeon, Mr Donald Ross in 1968. Sadly, whilst the transplants themselves were completed; the first three patients died within weeks due to major issues of organ rejection.?

Despite a moratorium in 1973 which had acted as an effective ban on these surgeries in the UK. It was accomplished cardiac surgeon, Sir Terence English, who could not be dissuaded in his pursuit to continue heart transplant surgery in the UK.?

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Facing challenges?

Even though there were advances around heart transplant surgery, there was subsequent media and political negativity. Sir Terence English, the pioneering surgeon at Royal Papworth Hospital Charity approached the local Cambridge Authority, which provided funding for heart transplantation to occur within Royal Papworth Hospital’s facilities.?

Unfortunately, Sir Terence’s first attempt at heart transplant surgery in January 1979 was unsuccessful as the patient had only survived a few weeks after the heart transplant.?

Sir Terence carried out his second surgery in August 1979 at Royal Papworth Hospital on Keith Castle, a 52-year-old who went on to survive over five years post-transplant. This went on to become the first successful heart transplant in UK history.?

The successful heart transplant on Keith Castle proved to be a significant breakthrough that Sir Terence and the UK needed. As Sir Terence had funding for only two attempts, this was his last chance. If the transplant had failed, it would have been unlikely that he would have received further funding. However, the success of the second attempt enabled Sir Terence to secure funding from Heart Research UK.?

Formerly known as the National Heart Research Fund, Heart Research UK funded the following six heart transplant surgeries in the UK, at what was then called Papworth Hospital.

After Sir Terence had performed two consecutive successful transplants, it provided sufficient evidence to the central regulatory and funding bodies to allow a full-scale transplant programme at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge. This in turn led to the inclusion of heart transplantation within the NHS.?

Heart transplant surgery today?

Since the first UK heart transplant in 1968, there have been approximately 9,000 heart transplants in the UK.?

Heart Research UK has also funded a Translational Research Project (TRP) Grant towards research at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, exploring the effectiveness of fluids for the preservation of donor hearts. This will continue to support the development of pioneering heart transplant surgery.?

Heart Research UK and Royal Papworth Hospital also hosts an annual surgical masterclass on heart and lung transplantation led by Marius Berman, Cardiothoracic and Transplant Surgeon at Royal Papworth Hospital.?

?45 years is a significant milestone and it’s because of you that we can continue to fund lifesaving research into heart transplant surgery. The next 45 years of heart transplant surgery are decided by people like you.?