London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) Achieves Breakthrough Heart Transplant Using Innovative Technology
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) recently made history in Canada by successfully performing a heart transplant using the advanced Transmedics Organ Care system, also known as the “heart in a box.”
Dr. Dave Nagpal, co-director of the multi-organ transplant program, highlighted the significance of this milestone, stating that the system enables the revival of donor hearts that have ceased beating after circulatory death. By utilizing this technology, the medical team was able to assess the functionality of the donor heart before implanting it into the recipient.
The recipient of this groundbreaking transplant was Raj Mittal, who had previously undergone a triple bypass surgery in 2025. After being readmitted to the hospital in January of this year, Mittal opted to be placed on the organ donation list and underwent the life-changing transplant surgery in February 2026.
Reflecting on his improved quality of life post-surgery, Mittal shared his joy in being able to engage in activities like walking, spending time with his family, and undergoing physiotherapy.
The utilization of the “heart in a box” technology not only benefited Mittal but also holds promise in reducing wait times for individuals on the transplant waitlist. With the ability to better preserve organs and extend transport time to 12 hours, this innovative approach could potentially enhance donor heart availability by up to 40%, thus offering hope to those in critical need of transplants.
This groundbreaking achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of LHSC, Ontario Health, and Trillium Gift of Life Network in London.
