Heart Transplants

A few rapid fire questions.

When was the first human heart transplant done?  Where?  Was it successful?  Were the next sequence of transplants after the first successful?  In the early days of this procedure, how often did it fail?

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

The first successful human heart transplant was done by Dr. Christian Barnard in South Africa in 1967 followed shortly by the first US transplant by Dr. Shumway at Stanford University in 1968.  There then followed a flurry of transplant activity in several centers for several years.  The initial enthusiam however was soon dampened as it became evident that postoperative survival was limited by a variety of complications including infections and rejection of the new heart.  It was not until the 1980's when the immunosuppressent drug cyclosporine was approved for use that a renewed interest in transplantation occured.

Currently the Cleveland Clinic is the number one heart transplant center in the country.  If you would like to be evaluated for heart transplant at the Cleveland Clinic please make an appointment with the heart failure clinic at 1-800-CCF-CARE.

[heartfull]

Hi Robin,
  I cant answer your questions but I am curious, are you Robin W. from Jons place? Jons place is a heart failure support site and there was a Robin W. who had a heart transplant on July 4, 1999, we have not heard from her since then and we are all wondering how she is doing with her new heart. If it is you, let us know how you are.
  God Bless, Robin Lynn

[Need adive URGENTLY!!!]

I am 31 and had my mitral valve replaced last year. My dentist recommended that I have 3 of my wisdom teeth removed because the gum line is up around the teeth slightly. He said that if I want the cleanest mouth posable,this should be done. Not to mention futre infection is posable sinBe I can'T clean under the gums. I spoke to my cardioligisst and he stated that I needed IV antibiotics to protect my valve from infection. 3 bags to be exact over the couse of 2-3 days.In the meantime the scheduling process started and the cardioligist changed his mind and said that I should only take the usual dose of antiobitics for invasive proceedures, which is I believe 4 1 hour prior and 6 caps after. I am so worried about infecting my valve. Any information would be appreciated, especially if you have had teeth pulled since valve surgery. Thank you Gina
***@****

[garyr]

This is not a terribly big deal.  With either injected antibiotics or the protocol of oral pre-med an hour before dental surgery, you will be fine.

Your system will be flooded with little germ killers to eliminate infection of the heart valve.

I have been on this regimen for over 40 years in various forms
and have never yet been affected (not testing you, fate!) after oral surgery.