A Saudi child, aged seven, was saved thanks to a brain-dead donor from Abu Dhabi who provided a life-saving organ.
The skilled team at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh successfully conducted a heart transplant on the child, who faced advanced heart failure due to a complex congenital heart defect.
After all treatment options, including medications, respiratory support, and a pacemaker, failed to yield significant improvements, the child was urgently added to the transplant list.
Due to medical challenges and time constraints, the organ was swiftly transported to Riyadh. The transplant was completed in record time. “The operation was conducted within a critical timeframe, ultimately saving the child’s life,” a statement noted.
Stay updated with the latest news by following KT on WhatsApp Channels.
KFSHRC highlighted that timing is crucial in heart transplant surgeries. The heart must be transplanted within five hours of removal to ensure success.
This time limit presents logistical challenges, especially when the donor is in another region or country. Every minute counts in these scenarios.
The organ donation was made possible through collaboration between the Saudi Centre for Organ Transplantation and the UAE’s National Program for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue (Hayat), with the donor’s family consent and regulatory approvals.
In 2024, the Saudi hospital provided 293,381 virtual consultations, marking a 58.2% increase from the previous year. It also achieved a world-first by implanting two artificial pumps for biventricular support (BiVAD-HMIII) using robotic technology on a patient with severe heart failure.
This innovative procedure paves the way for new circulatory support methods for patients with complex heart conditions, marking a medical milestone that led to the patient’s quick recovery post-surgery.
