Man receives transplant surgery using 'dead' heart

A man from Swinton has received pioneering transplant surgery using a 'dead' heart brought back to life.

Anthony Anderson had a transplant using a 'heart in the box' op, where a stopped heart is removed and restarted.

The 58-year-old was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, which left him seriously ill. He had visited Wythenshawe Hospital for tests on his heart and ended up staying for 95 days and placed on the urgent transplant list.

Prior to the surgery he was unable to carry out simple tasks and left unable to even raise his arms above his head. Now, speaking six months after the surgery Anthony says he has a 'new lease for life'.

Anthony said:

Anthony was diagnosed with cancer at just 21, and it was something he battled three times in five years.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy damaged his heart valves and muscles causing the disease of his heart muscle, which he was diagnosed with back in 2002.

The condition worsened and he had to give up working as a plumber just three years after his diagnosis.

Anthony said:

Anthony is one of only a handful of patients have undergone the treatment.

The ‘heart in the box’ technology can keep a heart preserved and beating for up to eight hours by pumping blood round it to restore functionality.

Wythenshawe is one of only four centres worldwide to have carried out the procedure, and doctors believe it could save hundreds more lives by increasing the number of donor hearts.

Once the heart is beating again surgeons are able to assess it more extensively and reduce the risk of rejection.

Anthony, who is married to Lisa, 50, added: