On December 2, 2019, a military veteran became the first adult in the United States to receive a heart transplant from a donor whose heart had stopped beating. The transplant was performed at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. The transplant was a Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) heart transplant. This means the donor's heart had stopped beating and they had been declared dead. The transplant was part of a clinical trial to test the TransMedics Organ Care System. This device circulates oxygenated blood through a heart that has stopped beating. The transplant was performed by Dr. Jacob Schroder, the surgical director of Duke's Heart Transplant program. The veteran received his heart through the Mission Act. The transplant could help more patients receive heart transplants faster. Benefits of DCD heart transplants Could increase the number of eligible donors by 30% Could save lives Could reduce wait times on heart transplant lists Could improve outcomes ...
Ebony Moore
Mama, Artist, Musician, Comedian, Writer