Vanderbilt Transplant Center sets world record for heart transplants in 2024

The history of heart transplants has always engaged our curiosity as it represents a step towards avoiding death, at least temporarily. Several outlets reported that in 2024, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) set the world record for the number of heart transplants performed in a year, with 174 procedures. This is no small feat. Heart transplants require a tremendous amount coordination, human resources, very motivated surgeons, and often luck, to say it bluntly -- it’s risky business.

The History of Heart Transplantation

Heart transplants are a testament to human endurance and dedication, it’s filled with groundbreaking achievements and dramatic stories, much like that of early surgeons such as Willam Halstead MD, who once removed his mother’s gallbladder on a kitchen table, showcasing the unwavering commitment of medical professionals in the face of adversity.

Here’s an Overview of Heart Transplants:

Early Attempts and Pioneers:

• 1905: The first recorded attempt at a heart tran…