**Canada’s First Heart Transplant Using a Donor After Circulatory Death Completed at UHN**

In a groundbreaking first for Canada, surgeons at Toronto’s University Health Network (UHN) have successfully completed a heart transplant using a donor whose heart had stopped beating. This innovative technique, known as donation after circulatory death (DCD), marks a significant advancement in the field of organ transplantation.

Unlike traditional heart transplants that use organs from brain-dead donors whose hearts continue to beat, this new approach involves recovering hearts after life support is withdrawn and the heart has stopped beating.

In early September, a team at UHN’s Toronto General Hospital transplanted a heart that had ceased beating following the withdrawal of life support. Dr. Ali Rabi, the cardiac surgeon at UHN’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre who led the surgery, explained:

> “Before, we only used hearts from brain-dead donors whose hearts were still beating. Now, we can use hearts that have stopped beating after life support is withdrawn. These are donors who are not considered brain dead. They have a few basic reflexes but no prospect of recovery. That decision is made by the patient, their family, their treatment team, and a neurology team. The family then decides they do not want their loved one to continue like this.”

This innovative step offers a new hope for those waiting for a heart transplant. Heart failure is one of the most common reasons people are admitted to hospital in Canada and remains a leading cause of death. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, by the end of 2024, there were 155 adults and 29 children waiting for a heart transplant.

Dr. Rabi highlighted the potential impact of this breakthrough:

> “Because of this surgery, we increase the number of heart transplants by 20 to 40 per cent. This will also reduce the number of people who never receive a heart transplant and die waiting for one.”

This technique has already been used successfully in other countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In Canada, the implementation of DCD heart transplants is expected to boost heart transplant numbers by about 30 per cent.

When the transplanted heart started beating again in the recipient, the surgical team was amazed at the organ’s natural strength.

> “It’s amazing. The heart’s natural strength is incredible. This breakthrough shows how innovation can save more lives. Congratulations to UHN for this historic milestone,” said a spokesperson.

Dr. Rabi also acknowledged the generosity of donor families:

> “It’s the hardest day of their lives, but many find comfort knowing their loved one helped save others.”

Recent data from Australia and the U.S. indicate no difference in long-term survival between recipients of hearts donated after circulatory death and those from traditional brain-dead donors.

Looking to the future, Dr. Rabi encourages young professionals to consider a career in heart failure and transplantation:

> “I encourage young people who are interested in heart failure and heart transplant to look at the field, and I guarantee you in the next five years, the field will be completely unrecognizable.”

This milestone at UHN represents a major advancement in transplant medicine and offers new hope to patients across Canada awaiting life-saving heart transplants.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11469587/toronto-heart-transplant/