Today in history: Dr Chris Barnard completes the first human heart transplant
The heart of a young woman, Denise Darvall, who was killed in a motor accident was donated to Louis Washkansky, whose heart was grossly enlarged.
Professor Chris Barnard led the team that performed the first successful human-to-human heart transplantation operation at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town on Sunday 3 December 1967.
The heart of a young woman, Denise Darvall, who was killed in a motor accident was donated to Louis Washkansky, whose heart was grossly enlarged.
Washkansky survived a five-hour long operation, but he developed a lung infection and died of pneumonia 18 days after the epoch-making operation.
Professor Barnard performed the first kidney transplant ever done at Groote Schuur Hospital in the same year.
Forty-year-old Dorothy Fischer was given a new heart in 1969 and became the longest surviving transplant patient.
Shortly after performing his first two historic operations, Barnard made it known that he was suffering from arthritis; his hands were becoming crippled at the joints.
Professor Christiaan Barnard died on 2 September 2001 from a severe asthma attack while on holiday in Cyprus.
Information sourced from: South African History Online.
