Toronto doctors at the University Health Network (UHN) have successfully conducted a pioneering heart transplant from a donor with a stopped heart, as reported by the UHN. The operation, which took place in early September at Toronto General Hospital, marked the first donation after death by circulatory criteria (DCC) heart transplant in Canada.
Traditionally, heart donations originate from donors with no brain function and a beating heart. However, in the DCC process, the heart is procured from a deceased patient, explained UHN. Despite a brief period without oxygen, advancements in medical technology now enable the successful transplantation of these hearts under precise conditions.
According to the UHN, donors for the DCC process are individuals with no chance of neurological recovery who have not been declared brain dead by a neurologist. Following confirmation of death and as per the patient’s or family’s wishes, life support is discontinued, and the heart is retrieved.
Dr. Seyed Alireza Rabi, a cardiac surgeon from the transplantation team, reported that the recipient of Toronto’s DCC heart transplant is recovering well. This breakthrough opens new possibilities for patients awaiting life-saving heart transplants, emphasizing that heart transplants are the sole cure for advanced heart failure.
Statistics from the Canadian Institute for Health Information indicated that by the end of 2024, 155 adults and 29 children in Canada were awaiting heart transplants. UHN anticipates that the DCC procedure will expand the heart donor pool by 30%.
Dr. Rabi noted that while the procedure is not novel, its success in countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States paved the way for its implementation in Toronto. He highlighted the critical “warm” and “cold” periods during the process to ensure minimal damage to the heart and swift transplantation.
Dr. Thomas Forbes, UHN’s surgeon in chief, hailed the DCC heart transplant as a significant advancement in Canadian transplant surgery, offering hope and extended life expectancy to Canadians with late-stage heart failure. He emphasized that heart failure is a debilitating and fatal condition, with transplants being a crucial intervention for improving patients’ quality of life.
Ontario’s minister of health, Sylvia Jones, commended the UHN team for achieving a historic milestone in Canadian healthcare with the first DCC heart transplant in the country, underscoring the role of innovation and collaboration in saving lives.