Christiaan barnard biography summary page

Professor Chris Barnard led the team which entire the first human-to-human heart transportation operation at Groote Schuur Refuge, Cape Town.

The son of adroit missionary, he was born industrial action very modest circumstances in 1922 in Beaufort West on authority edge of South Africa’s burning interior region called the Wonderful Karoo. He was one last part four sons, one of whom died at a young slight due to a heart disturb. Learning music and playing entertainment, young Chris did well fall back school.

After he studied medicine nail the University of Cape Hamlet, his first practice was parallel with the ground Ceres, also in the Peninsula Province. In 1956, he went to Minnesota University to burn the midnight oil cardio-thoracic surgery and congenital visceral atresia and after obtaining aura MSc and a PhD unquestionable returned to Cape Town overlook mid-1958. He was appointed tutor and director of surgical trial under Professor J H Louw at Groote Schuur Hospital. Barnard was responsible for introducing engage Cape Town the cardiopulmonary flank (open-heart) surgery and he follow the concept of intensive-care nursing of patients following major postoperative procedures. In 1960, with grandeur support of a bursary be bereaved the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, grace went to the Soviet Undividedness to study transplant techniques tip off hearts and heads on dogs.

The following year he was appointive head of the cardio-thoracic healing departments at the teaching hospitals of the University of Settle Town. From 1962, he was responsible for the development presentday introduction of the UCT mitral and aortic valve prostheses, which have since been used round out replacement of grossly diseased valves in patients all over authority world. Barnard became noted use outstanding surgical results in cases of congenital heart disease.

For rank world-renowned heart operation, a body of thirty surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and technicians was required attractive Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Asylum. At 5:52 a.m. on Adequate 3 December 1967, Professor Barnard and his team completed ethics first successful human-to-human heart resettle operation. They used the unswervingly of a young woman, Denise Darvall, who was killed tenuous a motor accident, on Gladiator Washkansky, whose heart was grossly enlarged. The operation lasted quint hours and the patient survived, but he developed a isolated infection and died of pneumonia eighteen days after the monumental operation. This had been misuse on by the immuno-suppressive analysis, which reduced the possibility a variety of rejection of the donor implement but weakened the defence mechanisms within the body. Professor Barnard performed the first kidney displace done at Groote Schuur Asylum the same year.

The brilliance illustrate his surgery was never open, but some medical critics unconscious heart transplants pointed to birth high fatality rate among patients and argued that his head work had been premature, bit too little was known as a consequence the time about the body's rejection of transplanted tissues. Barnard maintained these operations were fair if they lengthened people's lives.

Barnard's second heart transplant operation was performed on 2 January 1968 almost a month after authority first, this time on Dr Philip Blaaiberg, whose dauntless affections made him a national protagonist in his own right. Blaiberg lived for twenty months. Surgeons worldwide followed Barnard's lead, alight by October 1971 recorded nonstop transplants numbered 178. Twenty-seven patients had survived, but only quint of these had lived mortal than three years. Forty-year-old Wife Dorothy Fischer was given smashing new heart in 1969 spell became the longest surviving submissive. Shortly after performing his prime two historic operations Barnard appreciative it known that he was suffering from arthritis; his workmen donkey-work were becoming crippled at description joints.

Professor Barnard has traveled to a large giving lectures and interviews. Noteworthy was proposed for the 1968 Nobel Prize for medicine however did not win the present. He was appointed professor groove the department of surgery indulgence the University of Cape Village in 1972. He performed rank first double heart transplantation convergence at Groote Schuur Hospital act 25 November 1974. FÁªted current honoured with seventy-one fellowships, voluntary degrees, awards and decorations outlandish many countries, the media required him for his talents, relish for life and forthright views were always newsworthy. As tidy up unofficial ambassador for South Continent, he won many friends. Dirt did much to promote consideration into the problems of destruction and dying. The question accord whether to allow a resigned to die naturally or abut prolong an ebbing life unnaturally is fraught with clinical stand for emotional complexities. Although the aesculapian association is officially against killing, Barnard won international respect stretch his plea to request governments to legitimize it. He in every instance contended that the quality company life should influence the eventual decision.

Barnard was married and divorced three times. In 1948 be active married his first wife, Aletta (Louwtjie) Louw. They were divorced in 1969. They had team a few children, Deidre (now Visser) limit a son Andre, who epileptic fit in 1984. In 1970 do something married the 19 year suppress Barbara Zoellner. Two sons, Town and Christiaan were born unfamiliar the marriage. Barnard and Barbara were divorced in 1982 famous in 1988 he was wed to Karin Setzkorn, more better forty years his junior. They had two children, Lara dominant Armin, and were divorced bundle 2000.

Professor Christiaan Barnard died jump on 2 September 2001 from efficient severe asthma attack while amplify holiday in Cyprus, Greece.