Feb 27 • 01:00 UTC 🇮🇹 Italy La Repubblica

“During the removal in Bolzano, there was a risk of losing the heart” Saved by Austrian doctors

An Austrian medical team intervened in Bolzano to save a heart that was at risk of becoming unusable during an organ donation procedure.

In Bolzano, a critical incident occurred during an organ donation procedure involving the heart of a patient named Domenico. The Austrian medical team, present to remove kidneys and liver, noticed the heart was on the verge of becoming unusable if no immediate action was taken. Their quick intervention was crucial in preventing the loss of this vital organ during the delicate process of organ retrieval.

Despite the Austrian team's swift actions, the heart later encountered further complications during transport due to an error involving dry ice, which caused the organ to freeze. This significant mistake illustrates the high stakes and potential pitfalls involved in organ transport and transplantation, emphasizing the need for careful procedures to ensure the viability of donated organs.

The case sheds light on the collaborative efforts between medical teams from different countries in the field of organ donation, highlighting the urgency and complexity of such operations. It calls into question how similar incidents can be prevented in the future, ensuring that organs are handled properly during transfer to optimize their chances of successful transplantation.

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