Louis Washkansky

Who was Louis Washkansky?

Louis Washkansky was the recipient of the world's first human heart transplant.

Washkansky was a Lithuanian Jew who migrated with his friends from Slabodka to South Africa in 1922, aged nine, and became a grocer in Cape Town. Washkansky saw active service in World War II in East and North Africa and Italy.

He was an avid sportsman. He took part in football, swimming, and weightlifting. However, late in his life his health declined substantially: he was diabetic, and had an incurable heart disease, causing him to suffer three heart attacks. The last of these heart attacks led to congestive heart failure.

In April 1966, Washkansky visited Groote Schuur Hospital due to his pre-existing illness. He was first seen by Dr. Barry Kaplan, who in July 1966 had asked if Mr Christiaan Barnard would be willing to attend Washkansky. Barnard had performed a number of laboratory tests and an in-depth examination on Washkansky and came to the conclusion that nothing could be done to help him. In January 1967, Washkansky was referred to Dr. Mervyn Gotsman, a cardiologist at the Cardiac Clinic in Groote Schuur Hospital due to refractory heart failure. Washkansky underwent cardiac catheterisation, confirming severe heart failure and was subsequently referred to Barnard for possible surgery.