The number of heart transplants could increase dramatically after the success of the UK’s first operation involving a non-beating organ.
The operation at Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire, was the first time a heart had come from a donor who had suffered circulatory death – rather than just brain stem cell death.
Patient Huseyin Ulucan, aged 60, from London, spoke of the success of the operation yesterday.
During the procedure the heart only stopped beating for five minutes and was then re-started in the donor before being removed and stored in a "heart in a box" machine.
The device is reported to cost £150,000 together with another £25,000 each time it is used.
Papworth Hospital says it has developed its own new techniques to make the procedure successful. This could increase the number of donated hearts by 25%.
Surgeon Stephen Large said: "We had the heart beating for about 50 minutes, and by monitoring its function were able to tell that it was in very good condition."
He added: "This is a very exciting development. By enabling the safe use of this kind of donor hearts, we could significantly increase the total number of heart transplants each year, saving hundreds of lives."
Cardiothoracic Transplant Registrar Simon Messer added: "Research conducted at Papworth allowed us to develop a new technique not used anywhere else in the world to ensure the best possible outcome for our patients using hearts from non-heart beating donors."
Mr Ulucan spent just four days in critical care after the operation and is now recovering at home.
He said: "Before the surgery, I could barely walk and I got out of breath very easily, I really had no quality of life."
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