Dr Chris Barnard successfully performs a heart and lung transplant
Dr. Chris Barnard
Date: 25 July, 1971
Christiaan Neethling Barnard obtained his medical degree from the University of Cape Town (UCT). He then travelled to the United States to receive training in cardiothoracic surgery. In 1958, he returned to South Africa as cardiothoracic surgeon and established the first heart unit at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.
After having experimented with animal transplants for a number of years, Barnard performed the first human kidney transplant in South Africa in October 1967. In the same year, he performed the first human heart transplant in the world.
On 25 July 1971, Dr. Chris Barnard conducted the world's first successful heart and lung transplant. The patient, Louis Washkansky, suffered from incurable heart disease, and although the operation was hailed a success, Washkansky died of pneumonia 18 days later.
Barnard continued to perform successful heart transplants and in 1971 he successfully transplanted a heart, as well as two lungs. Between 1967 and 1973, Chris Barnard performed 10 heart transplants. His pioneering work in cardio thoracic surgery is considered to be one of the greatest contributions to the medical field.
References:
- Christian Barnard [online] Available at: wikipedia.org [Accessed 15 July 2009]
- Christiaan Neethling Barnard [online] Available at: zar.co.za [Accessed 13 July 2009]