Milestones in the history of organ and tissue donation and transplantation

The history of successful organ and tissue transplantation is only a century old, but is marked by many milestones that have saved many lives. Australia has been a leader in pioneering liver transplantation.

1823: Germany
First skin auto graft transplantation of skin tissue from one location on an individual's body to another location

1905:Moravia (now Czech Republic)
First human-to-human corneal transplant. This was also the first successful human-to-human transplant of any kind

1908:Switzerland
First skin allograft-transplantation of skin from a donor to a recipient

Early 1940's:Sydney and Melbourne
Australia begins corneal transplants1954

1954USA
First living related kidney transplant (identical twins)

1955:Canada
First heart valve allograft into descending aorta

1962:USA
First kidney transplant

1965Australia
Australia's first successful (living) kidney transplant Queen Elizabeth Hospital, SA

1967:USA
First successful liver transplant

1967:South Africa
First heart transplant

1968:USA
First pancreas transplant

1979:USA
Living related pancreas (mother to child)

1981:USA
First heart/lung transplant

1983:Canada
First successful lung transplant

1983:Canada
First successful lung transplant

1983:USA
Cyclosporine approved for commercial use in USA. A revolutionary anti-rejection drug, it heralded a new era for kidney, liver and heart transplantation

1984:USA
First heart-liver transplant

1984:St Vincent's Hospital, NSW, Australia
Australia's first successful heart transplant

1985:Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Australia's first successful liver transplant

1985:Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
First successful kidney transplant from a deceased donor

1986:Canada
First successful double lung transplant

1986:Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD, Australia
The ‘Brisbane Technique' for splitting livers to benefit three recipients initiated

1986:St Vincent's Hospital, NSW, Australia
Australia's first successful heart/lung transplant

1987:Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia
Australia's first successful kidney/pancreas transplant

1987:Princess Alexandria Hospital, QLD, Australia
First segmental liver transplant (for children)

1988:UK
First successful intestinal transplant

1988:UK
First successful liver-bowel transplant

1988:France
First two-in-one liver transplant (one liver is split for two recipients)

1989:Princess Alexandria Hospital, Qld, Australia
First successful living liver transplant

1989:USA
First combination heart, liver, and kidney transplant

1990:USA
First living related lung transplant

1990:St Vincent's Hospital, NSW, Australia
Australia's first successful single lung transplant

1990:St Vincent's Hospital, NSW, Australia
Australia's first successful single lung transplant

1992:USA
Xenotransplant (pig liver to human)

1992:USA
Xenotransplant (baboon's liver to human)

1995:USA
World's first laparoscopic live-donor nephrectomy in which a patient's kidney is removed through a 5 to 6 cm incision.

1995:USA
Transplantation of all abdominal organs

1998:France
First successful human hand transplant (later removed)

2002:Princess Alexandra Hospital, Qld, Australia
First single segment liver transplant on a baby (24 days old)

2003:Princess Alexandra Hospital, Qld, Australia
Australia's first triple transplant (heart, lung, liver)

2005:France
First successful partial face transplant

2005:Japan
First living donor islet transplant

2006:Royal Price Alfred Hospital, NSW, Australia
World's first kidney/liver/pancreas transplant

2009:USA
Paediatric transplant for small bowel, liver, pancreas and two kidneys

Sources include:

• Chapman, JR, 1992, Transplantation in Australia-50 years of progress. MJA 157: 47
• Queensland Government (Health Dpt) Press Release 01.06.07
• Australia and NZ Cardiothoracic Organ Transplant Registry
• Australian Department of Health and Ageing National Clinical Taskforce on Organ and Tissue Donation - Final Report 2008