Live-donor domino transplantIn 1987, Clinton House became the first living heart donor in the U.S. during a so-called domino transplant at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. To replace his lungs that had been damaged by cystic fibrosis, doctors gave him a multiple-organ heart and lung combination transplant from an auto accident victim in a 17-hour operation. They believed that option was safer because there were more problems with lungs-only transplants. House gave his own healthy heart to a second recipient, John Couch, 38, at the same hospital. (Two similar procedures had already been performed in Britain). House survived 14 months with his new lungs and heart until overcome by the consequences of rejection. He died on 11 Jul 1988.«[Image: House (top left) and Couch.] |
