Boy has two heart transplants within days of each other

Dec 8 2007 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

NEWCASTLE heart doctors have saved the life of a 14-year-old by performing two heart transplants within days of each other.

Adam Allbutt, from Stoke-on-Trent, was put on the heart transplant list in September after suffering a leak in a heart valve, a short and devastating illness.

A heart was found and Adam underwent his first transplant on October 5, making good progress for the first few days.

But things took a turn for the worse and with no warning his new heart suffered a massive attack and failed completely.

Consultant paediatric cardiologist at the Freeman Hospital Dr Richard Kirk said: “Fortunately, the resuscitation team was actually on the ward at the time and went to work immediately to try to save him.

“His heart was massaged for over 100 minutes to keep him alive until he could be put on a heart support machine. This gave sufficient time for a new heart transplant to be undertaken a few days later.”

Adam underwent a second transplant on October 16 and has made steady progress since.

He is expected to return home on Tuesday and his parents are nominating him for a Survivor of the Year award.

Adam said: “The last few months have been very busy for me but now I feel fine. I can’t wait to get home for Christmas.

“It was a shock when they first told me I needed a transplant and I was scared, but now I just can’t wait to get home.”