How long did the first heart transplant patient survive?

The first successful human heart transplant was performed on December 3, 1967, by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in South Africa. The patient, Louis Washkansky, survived for 18 days after the transplant. This brief survival period highlighted both the potential of heart transplantation as a life-saving procedure and the challenges associated with organ rejection and postoperative care at that time. The 18 days were significant because they provided valuable insights into the immunological responses of transplant patients and paved the way for advancements in transplant medicine, including better immunosuppressive therapies that have significantly improved long-term outcomes for transplant recipients today. This historical event marked a milestone in the field of medicine and underscored the complexities involved in organ transplantation.