Peter Houghton (20 August 1938 – 25 November 2007) was the longest surviving artificial

heart transplant A heart transplant, or a cardiac transplant, is a surgical transplant procedure performed on patients with end-stage heart failure when other medical or surgical treatments have failed. , the most common procedure is to take a functioning heart ...

patient in the UK. Houghton was implanted with a Jarvik 2000 heart pump at the

John Radcliffe Hospital John Radcliffe Hospital (informally known as the JR or the John Radcliffe) is a large tertiary teaching hospital in Oxford, England. It forms part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is named after John Radcliffe (physician) ...

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

, England, by professor Stephen Westaby, on 20 June 2000 owing to severe heart failure. After the operation, the left ventricular assist device worked continuously supporting his heart, breaking the previous world duration record on 11 August 2004 at 1,513 days. The record represents the survival of both the person and the artificial heart. A few individuals have lived longer than 1,512 days but with two artificial hearts, having the first surgically replaced due to failure or wear. Houghton was the first person in the world to be given an artificial heart for permanent use rather than as a bridge to transplantation. An educated

psychotherapist Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of Psychology, psychological methods, particularly when based on regular Conversation, personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase hap ...

, Houghton has written a book, "The World Within Me," in which he contemplates how receiving the transplant challenges his devout

Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. He also reports that, ironically, the heart transplant has left him largely devoid of emotion. He died on November 25, 2007, at Birmingham's

Selly Oak Hospital Selly Oak Hospital was a hospital situated in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham, England. Previously managed by the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, the hospital closed in 2011. History Origins The site was originally sel ...

at the age of 69. The cause of death was given as multiple organ failure.Artificial heart man dies aged 68
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Houghton, Peter People from Birmingham, West Midlands 2007 deaths 1938 births Heart transplant recipients Deaths from multiple organ failure