New lung-to-heart transplant using new organ transport technology

Rare surgeries benefit from innovative technology that allows organs to be sourced from further away, increasing the chances of a match.

In March, a pediatric team in Cincinnati transplanted the lungs and then the heart, moving the organs separately outside the body for a total of 12 hours. This was unprecedented and gave 15-year-old Adrian the life chance he needed.

On September 12, 2024, the relevant experts described the incident as follows: Heart and Lung Transplant Journal

The heart and lungs are usually transplanted together. In this case, the organs were transported separately using a new technique to ensure their longevity. So Adrian's new lungs were transplanted first, followed by his heart during the same surgery.

Due to a congenital disease, Adrian needs a transplant.

Adrian was born with Castleman disease. As a result, he later developed bronchiolitis obliterans and his lung function decreased. While undergoing tests for a lung transplant, it was discovered that he had a heart condition. It turned out Adrian needed both a heart and lung transplant.

Waiting on the transplant list can be a long and arduous process. There is a shortage of pediatric organs available in the United States. The mortality rate while waiting for a pediatric heart-lung transplant is as high as 50%.

Pioneering technology expands options for organ recovery

The Cincinnati pediatric team increased the chances of finding Adrian's organs by utilizing TransMedics' Organ Care System (OCS). OCS is a portable organ delivery system that perfuses organs during transport. Organs can survive longer in OCS than when using traditional methods of transporting organs on ice. That means organs can come from further away.

“Obtaining organs from such a distance helps reduce the time children spend on transplant lists,” says Dr. Dr. David LS Moralesco-director of the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and one of the surgeons who performed the transplant. “Our patient had already been waiting a year, so in this case we used OCS. This allows us to obtain organs from anywhere in the country, increasing the area from which we can retrieve organs by 400%.”

Shaping the future of healthcare

Disparities exist in the number of children in need of organ transplants because fewer organs are available than in the past.

“There continues to be a dramatic decline in pediatric donor availability for solid organ transplant candidates that has been occurring since the late 2000s,” he says. Dr. Don Hayesthe medical director of the lung transplant program and another of Adrian's surgeons. “That's impacting outcomes. By using the organ care system, we can optimize outcomes for children, minimize the disparities they face, and ensure that they receive procedures that are critical to their survival. You will be able to.”

Two months after receiving his new heart and lungs, Adrian was discharged from the hospital and back to normal life, breathing, eating, walking, and participating in rehabilitation. “He's doing very well,” Hayes said.

By leveraging this cutting-edge technology and advanced surgical techniques, Cincinnati Children's Hospital will go beyond what other institutions are doing by significantly increasing the likelihood that patients on the transplant list will find a compatible donor sooner. I'm doing something that's not there.