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First Heart Transplant on a Man

From , former About.com Guide

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The first heart transplant was performed in December 1967 on Louis Washkansky by surgeon Dr Christian Barnard at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Capetown, South Africa.

The patient, Mr Washkansky aged 53, only lived for 18 days, dying eventually of pneumonia; a result of the immunosupressant drugs he was taking to prevent rejection of his new heart.

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