Regional Normothermic Perfusion Enables First Controlled Circulatory Donation And Multi‑Organ Procurement For Transplant
WORLD NEWS – ARGENTINA: At the Hospital de Emergencia Clemente Álvarez an unprecedented organ donation procedure was carried out yesterday using controlled circulatory death with regional normothermic perfusion, resulting in the procurement of a liver and kidneys intended for transplantation. The operation, coordinated by the provincial Ministry of Health through Cudayo, marked the first procedure of its kind in the province this year and represents a coordinated multiorgan effort that required specialized equipment and teams from several institutions.
Medical leaders described the intervention as technologically demanding and logistically complex. Teams used a normothermic perfusion system — including a pump typically deployed in cardiac surgery — together with oxygenators and other support devices to preserve organs in regional circulation. The pump and additional equipment were provided by Hospital Vilela and Hospital Centenario, while multidisciplinary clinical squads, including specialists from Fundación Favaloro and visiting expert teams, joined local staff to manage perfusion, organ assessment, and distribution logistics.
This controlled donation pathway was prepared over several days and builds on similar work conducted last year in the city of Santa Fe, advancing provincial capacity for donation after circulatory death. Organ procurement under regional normothermic perfusion aims to improve viability and expand opportunities for transplantation by maintaining organs in physiological conditions prior to retrieval and transfer. Health authorities framed the operation as a milestone for the regional transplant program, emphasizing collaboration across hospitals, technology sharing, and coordinated timing to move organs safely from donor to recipient centers.
The procedure underscores growing technical capability in Argentina to perform complex donation and preservation strategies that support multiorgan transplantation, while highlighting the intricate planning and interinstitutional cooperation required to bring such interventions to fruition.
Video originally published on 2026-01-08 20:13:52
