- On 3 December 1967, Barnard with a large team of cardiologists, radiologists, anaesthetists, technicians, nurses, immunologists, pathologists, and Prof Val Schrire, head of the Cardiac Clinic performed the nine-hour operation.
- Patient Louis Washkansky became the recipient of Denise Darvall’s heart.
- The original theatre, where this transplant was performed, has been turned into a museum. The museum consists of wax sculptures of the group of medical pioneers who operated.
It’s been 56 years since the world’s first human heart transplant was performed by Prof Christiaan Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital.
On 3 December 1967, Barnard with a large team of cardiologists, radiologists, anaesthetists, technicians, nurses, immunologists, pathologists, and Prof Val Schrire, head of the Cardiac Clinic performed the nine-hour operation
Patient Louis Washkansky became the recipient of Denise Darvall’s heart. She was hit by a car and suffered severe brain damage.
The original theatre, where this transplant was performed, has been turned into a museum. The museum consists of wax sculptures of the group of medical pioneers who operated.
To celebrate this milestone, the Groote Schuur Hospital Trust hosted a commemorative event on Sunday 3 December and gave guests a private tour of the South African Heart Museum.
Dr Bhavna Patel, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, says: “It’s heartwarming and I think it is special to be a part of this hospital. The pride that you feel that you are a part of something like this is so special. There is so much history attached to it and it comes with years of experience.”
Patel explains that since that historic moment, more than five decades ago, the hospital has continued its legacy of being the first to complete operations and procedures.
Armin Barnard, who was 12 years old when his father died, says he still has fond memories of him. “Each year on the anniversary of the transplant, for the entire year I think of my father as dad. My thought process isn’t that of a heart surgeon. And when I come to the museum,
“I get this amazing reminder of the legacy that he has and the amazing person that he was. It’s so rewarding and humbling to see how so many people celebrate his legacy.”
Dene Friedman was a trainee perfusionist and assisted the chief perfusionist in the theatre on the night of the transplant.
She explains that 56 years later, she still gets nostalgic when thinking of that historic moment.
“It was exciting and tense because we knew we were doing something that had never been done in the world before.
“Even though we had the utmost trust in Prof Barnard, we were still nervous about whether that heart would start beating again. When the heart started to quiver with life, Prof Barnard said, ‘It’s going to work’. It was incredible,” Friedman explains.
