Research results into pioneering 'non-beating heart' transplants

The results of a new type of pioneering heart transplant carried out at Papworth Hospital have been revealed, as the world marks the 50th anniversary of the first ever heart transplant today.

In March 2015 the Cambridgeshire hospital performed Europe's first transplant using a non-beating heart. Since then the hospital has successfully treated 37 patients, increasing transplants by a third.

New research on the outcomes of this type of transplant has found the survival rate after two years is comparable to those of a beating heart transplant.

The hospital says the procedure is helping to address the shortage of donor hearts.

The hospital has performed more than 1,400 heart transplants in total, but previously surgeons were only able to transplant beating hearts from donors following the diagnosis of brain death (DBD).

Now a newly published paper - Outcomes following heart transplantation from donation after circulatory determined death (DCD) donors - reveals the survival rate and recovery of 28 DCD recipients were comparable to those of matched DBD recipients over a 25-month period.

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, telephone 0300 123 23 23.