New Technology Increases Number Of Donor Hearts Available

BOSTON (CBS) - Many patients on the heart transplant list die waiting for a heart, but a local company has found an incredible way to significantly increase the number of donor hearts available. Something like a "heart in a box".

For the past eight months, Graham Waugh from Belchertown has been waiting for a new heart. Though he remains optimistic, he wonders whether he'll live long enough to get one. "When you know that you're going to be given a second chance," Graham says, "Then the wait begins and you begin to wonder will I last to my second chance?"

Graham is one of 4,000 Americans on the heart transplant list, but only about 60% will receive a heart. Many donor hearts are rejected either because they're more than four hours away from the recipient or they wouldn't survive traditional transport on ice. "Once a donor heart is outside of the body and not getting perfused and getting nutrients and oxygen, after about four hours, it does not do well," explains Dr. Jose Garcia, a transplant surgeon at Mass. General Hospital and Graham's doctor.

TransMedics, a medical device company in Andover, MA, has created technology that could make many more hearts available for patients waiting on the transplant list.

It's called the Organ Care System or OCS and unlike a cooler of ice, it's designed to keep a heart warm, alive, and pumping until it reaches its destination. "Because we are keeping the heart oxygenated and supplied with nutrients, there is no limitation on time," says Dr. Waleed Hassanein, the Founder and CEO of TransMedics.

That means they could take a heart from California and bring it all the way to Boston, and good hearts that might otherwise be discarded could be preserved, like older hearts, thickened hearts, or hearts from donors with diabetes or high blood pressure.

"With OCS," explains Dr. Hassanein, "We eliminate that injury but also provide a way to assess those hearts and that gives the assurance that these hearts are viable, healthy and suitable enough to be transplanted."

Even more remarkable, the OCS was used in Australia a few weeks ago to restart and resuscitate three hearts that had literally stopped beating for up to 20 minutes. All three patients who received the hearts are doing well.

"I think conservatively speaking we could double the number of heart transplants in the US," says Dr. Hassanein.

Welcome news for Graham who has been in the hospital for two months waiting for the call. But he says, don't pity him. "Don't feel sorry for me," Graham says. "Just be thankful I'm in a place that cares and I'm going to get a second chance."

Update:

Graham Waugh received a new heart on Friday, December 5, 2014 at Mass. General Hospital with Dr. Garcia who says he is doing well and resting comfortably.

MORE HEALTH NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON