World's first "dead heart" transplant successful

They have successfully completed three transplants using hearts that had stopped beating for 20 minutes – said to be the first such transplants in the world, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Two of the patients are already up and about, while the most recent recipient is still recovering in intensive care.

Heart transplants typically rely on organs taken from brain-dead donors whose hearts are still beating; the Herald reports the new development could save 30% more lives. The surgeon who performed the operations says he “kicked the air” after he realized the first surgery had gone well.