TWO heart and lung transplants were carried out at Papworth Hospital last week, in the first week of January. This is a rare operation. Only three were carried out in the UK for the whole of last year. On Sunday January 3, a woman received a new heart and
TWO heart and lung transplants were carried out at Papworth Hospital last week, in the first week of January. This is a rare operation. Only three were carried out in the UK for the whole of last year.
On Sunday January 3, a woman received a new heart and lungs and the following day a man underwent the same operation. Both patients are in their 30s.
This is surgery pioneered by Papworth Hospital, which carried out the first successful heart lung transplant in Europe in 1984. The operation to replace the heart and lungs in one block is now quite rare. The surgery usually takes about five hours.
The director of transplant service at Papworth Hospital, Steven Tsui said: "We are delighted that both patients are doing well following their surgery. Combined heart lung transplantation is becoming less common because of severe donor organ shortages and it is remarkable that our team was able to carry out these two operations on consecutive days. These fortunate patients were able to receive their life saving surgery thanks to the courageous decision of the donors and their families. However, we could save many more lives if more people support organ donation and joined the organ donor register.
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