Christiaan Barnard commenting on the first heart transplant,1967
NBC News Archive
In 1967, at Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa, Christiaan Barnard became the first surgeon to perform a heart transplant. Although the operation was hailed as a success, the patient, Louis Washkansky, survived just 18 days. In the years following this first attempt, many heart transplants failed – often due to problems with organ rejection. The body automatically attacks a transplanted organ, in the same way it would a virus or bacteria. Anti-rejection drugs suppress the immune system to protect the organ, but leave the body vulnerable to infection.
Following the first heart transplant on 3 December 1967 the hospital in Cape Town was besieged by the press with Barnard’s achievement making headlines across the world. The heart was still thought of by many as the dwelling place of the soul, transplantation of the heart therefore meant transference of the soul.