title: A history of orthotopic heart transplantation.
abstract: Orthotopic human heart transplantation today is performed at more than 150 U.S. centers, and the average survival is more than 10 years. Its prevalence and success, however, belies the fact that just 40 years ago, no one had ever attempted the procedure in humans and that the procedure seemed destined for failure just a year after the first transplant. This article reviews the history of orthotopic heart transplantation, beginning with ancient Greek legends and culminating in modern successes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27715, USA. meine001@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Trip J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Meine
authors.forename: Stuart D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D001926:Brain Death; D006084:Graft Rejection; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D009229:Mythology