Home Heart Transplantation World’s first successful human heart transplant as donor heart crosses the Atlantic Ocean on long-haul commercial flight

World’s first successful human heart transplant as donor heart crosses the Atlantic Ocean on long-haul commercial flight

by Mateusz Maszczynski
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A new world first in the field of human heart transplant surgery has taken place after a donor heart was successfully transported across the Atlantic Ocean on a long-haul commercial aircraft.

The donor heart was stored for more than 12 hours at France’s Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital before being transplanted into a 70-year-old man, according to researchers who recently published their findings in the Lancet medical journal.

Authors Guillaume Lebreton and Pascal Leprince said transporting a human heart over 6,750 kilometers from the French West Indies to Paris was “a feat previously unimaginable for organ transplants”. .

This achievement was made possible by a special transport case that not only keeps the heart cool, but also keeps the organ supplied with oxygen during long journeys.

The doctors who arranged the heart’s transport from the French West Indies to Paris reserved a seat on the bus for the XVIVO Heart Assist Transport Module. Despite encountering severe turbulence, the flight was “eventful.”

“In recent years, the concept of using a machine that continuously delivers oxygenated fluid to the heart during transport has been evaluated in clinical trials,” LeBreton and LePrince explained.

“However, no studies have investigated extreme transport times (more than 10 hours).”

“This transplant has the potential to be a breakthrough in heart transplantation, allowing increased access to unused donor hearts. This allows hearts to be utilized and safely transported over long distances. ”LeBreton commented.

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Mateusz Maszczynski


Mateusz Mashczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant for one of the Middle East’s most prominent airlines, and has continued to fly for Europe’s leading airlines during the coronavirus pandemic. Matt is passionate about the aviation industry and has become an expert on passenger experiences and human-centered stories. Always listening to what’s going on, Matt’s industry insights, analysis, and news reporting are frequently trusted by some of the biggest names in journalism.

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Welcome to Daily Transplant News, your trusted source for the latest updates, stories, and information on transplantation and organ donations. We are passionate about sharing the inspiring journeys, groundbreaking research, and invaluable resources surrounding the world of transplantation.

About Us

Welcome to Daily Transplant News, your trusted source for the latest updates, stories, and information on transplantation and organ donations. We are passionate about sharing the inspiring journeys, groundbreaking research, and invaluable resources surrounding the world of transplantation.

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