Toronto hospital performs Canada’s first heart transplant using a heart that stopped beating: UHN – CTV

October 08, 2025

Canada’s first-ever heart transplant using a heart that stopped beating before being donated has successfully been performed in Toronto, according to University Health Network (UHN).

The hospital network said the “successful completion of Canada’s first donation after death by circulatory criteria (DCC)” heart transplant was carried out in early September at Toronto General Hospital.

Cardiac surgeon Dr. Seyed Alireza Rabi at UHN’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre led the procedure alongside Dr. Michael McDonald’s team of cardiologists.

“Traditionally, heart transplants have only been possible from donors where the brain has permanently ceased to function, while the heart continues to beat,” UHN said in a news release.

Donations after death by circulatory criteria involves patients who do not have a chance of neurological recovery and also don’t meet the criteria for brain death.

Once the patient, or their family, has agreed to being taken off life support and their death is confirmed, UHN says it quickly recover their organs.

Read more: https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/toronto-hospital-performs-canadas-first-heart-transplant-using-a-heart-that-stopped-beating/