Heart transplants are usually carried out with hearts from people who are brain dead. Their circulatory system is still working and blood is still flowing through the heart and receiving oxygen.
A patient in Australia two months ago received a donor heart that was technically dead, no blood flowing through it. The heart was placed in a new machine ( "heart-in-a-box".) that revived it by keeping it warm and placing vital fluids inside it. This procedure could make up to 30 percent more hearts available for transplanted and has been welcomed by the British Heart Foundation.
Source BBC http://www.transmedics.com
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