Canada’s First ‘Heart in a Box’ Transplant Completed at London Health Sciences Centre
London Health Sciences Centre has performed Canada's first heart transplant using the Transmedics Organ Care system, marking a significant advancement in organ preservation technology.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) in London, Ontario, has completed Canada’s first heart transplant utilizing the Transmedics Organ Care system, commonly referred to as "heart in a box." The procedure involved implanting a donor heart that had been revived after circulatory death into recipient Raj Mittal.
The "heart in a box" technology allows surgeons to revive and assess donor hearts that have stopped beating following circulatory death. This capability is expected to increase the availability of donor hearts by upwards of 40 percent, according to Dr. Dave Nagpal. Additionally, the system can extend potential organ transport times to 12 hours, offering greater flexibility for logistics and matching.
Raj Mittal underwent triple bypass surgery in 2025 and was placed on the organ donation list in January 2026. He received his transplant in February 2026 after waiting two weeks on the list. The successful procedure resulted from collaboration between LHSC, Ontario Health, and the Trillium Gift of Life Network.
This advancement enables the use of donor hearts previously ineligible for transplant due to circulatory death. It is anticipated to reduce wait times for patients on the transplant list and allow recipients to resume normal activities, such as walking and spending time with family.