Christiaan Neethling Barnard — A controversial figure: Courage, innovation, and the global impact of the world’s first human heart transplant

Abstract

In the early hours of May 26, 1968, Professor Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini and his associates performed the first human heart transplantation in Brazil. Years prior, the possibility of such operation had been proposed to him twice; however, he had considered it premature.
In December 3, 1967, Dr. Christiaan Neethling Barnard performed the first human-to-human heart transplantation worldwide. The following day, Dr. Zerbini began a series of meetings to prepare his team. As in several centers worldwide, the Brazilian team decided to pursue transplantation inspired by Barnard’s achievement.