Blaiberg Failing NEW HEART A POSSIBILITY

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31725, 8 July 1968, Page 11

Blaiberg Failing NEW HEART A POSSIBILITY

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright) CAPE TOWN, July 7. Surgeons and operating theatre technicians stood by today ready to place another new heart to the desperatelyill Cape Town dentist, Dr Philip Blaiberg.

Dr Blaiberg, aged 59, the world’s third heart transplant case and, with six months behind him, the one who has lived longest, deteriorated rapidly yesterday with lung trouble.

The world’s first transplant patient, Mr Louis Washkansky, died in Cape Town last December after three days of lung complications. Dr Blaiberg’s distressed wife, Mrs Eileen Blaiberg, told reporters last night “the only way to save Philip’s life is to give him a new heart.” Meanwhile, rumours that Professor Chris Barnard’s team was intending a surgical first by transplanting a lung into Dr Blaiberg as well as another heart were discounted last night by Groote Schuur Hospital. “I have heard nothing of! these suggestions, a hospital j spokesman said. “I spoke to Dr Barnard! earlier and he said nothing! about lungs.” Before surgeons can take the desperate measure of giving Dr Blaiberg a second heart, a donor has to be found.

While crowds of reporters and onlookers gathered last night and today at the huge hospital building, the surgical team waited for an accident victim whose tissues would

prove suitable for Dr Blaiberg. His present heart came from a Cape Coloured workman, Mr Clive Haupt. The retired dentist’s relapse was very sudden, opening the question of tissue rejection and damaging lung effects which transplant surgeons and immunologists have always admitted to be the unknown factor.

The only man to have left hospital with a new heart. Dr Blaiberg spent two months at home before returning to hospital early last month with a liver complaint. When Groote Schuur announced his new illness on Friday, it said the liver condition was steadily improving.