NTU Achieves Beating Heart Transplant

National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) has successfully completed the world’s first beating heart transplant with zero ischemic time, with the patient recovering smoothly and being discharged. This groundbreaking surgery was recently featured in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Techniques, marking a major advancement in global heart transplantation.

Since performing Taiwan’s first heart transplant in 1990, National Taiwan University Hospital has completed over 700 transplants, establishing itself as a national leader in the field. This extensive experience laid the foundation for the innovative surgery, which represents a paradigm shift in organ transplantation.

Unlike traditional heart transplants that require cold storage and inevitably involve ischemic time, the new method maintains continuous perfusion, keeping the donor heart beating throughout the procedure. This approach eliminates ischemic injury, minimizes reperfusion damage, and is expected to significantly improve both heart function and patient survival rates.

As a leading force in cardiac transplantation in Asia, National Taiwan University Hospital’s achievement opens new possibilities for organ preservation and transplant success worldwide. Moving forward, the hospital will continue advancing its techniques and technologies, enabling more patients to benefit from zero-ischemic-time transplantation.