BRITISH SURGEONS PERFORM U.K.'S FIRST BEATING HEART TRANSPLANT

British surgeons at Papworth Hospital carried out the U.K.’s first “beating heart” transplant this week, a procedure which they hope will revolutionise the way transplants are carried out in the future. The patient, a 58 year old man is said to be doing extremely well. The new procedure involves keeping a donated heart warm and beating, rather than packing it in ice for transport. It has been carried out twice in Germany with great success. In the past there has always been a mad rush to get donor organs to the recipient as soon as possible before the condition of the heart deteriorates. However this new method allows organs being used for transplant to “live” longer which means they can travel further without the worry of them deteriorating before they reach the intended recipient. This could double the number of transplants currently done. Sounds good to me!