The Puerta de Hierro University Hospital in Majadahonda has set a milestone by executing Spain's first heart and lung transplant from a donor who died due to cardiac arrest, known as controlled asystole. The recipient, 54-year-old Nieves from Colmenar Viejo, Madrid, was born with a rare condition called arterial trunk, which can lead to heart failure and inadequate oxygenation.

For Nieves, this transplant was the sole viable treatment option, and following the procedure, her recovery has been promising. Globally, similar surgeries have predominantly used organs from brain-dead donors, making this a rare achievement.

The simultaneous replacement of the heart and both lungs is an exceptionally intricate surgical feat. The public facility of Puerta de Hierro is one of only two centers in Spain authorized to perform such operations.

The procedure involved experts from various departments including Cardiac and Pulmonary Transplant Teams, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology, Thoracic Surgery, Pulmonology, Radiology, Anesthesia, Nursing, and Transplant Coordination.

Dr. Carlos Martín, head of Cardiac Surgery, emphasized the technical challenges of the cardiopulmonary transplant. It involves the complete removal of the heart and lungs, necessitating extracorporeal circulation, followed by their reimplantation.

Thoracic surgeon Silvana Crowley explained that a hospital team traveled to the donor's location, where the donor was maintained on an extracorporeal circulation machine, to assess the viability of the organs. After confirming suitability, they extracted the heart-lung block and transported it for implantation into the recipient.

Nieves described her post-transplant life as completely transformed. "Before, I couldn't do much, now I can do everything. I used to rest when dancing and was always the last when walking. Now, I can jump and run, though I haven't tried yet," she shared enthusiastically.

Expressing profound gratitude, Nieves thanked the donor, their family, and friends for their incredible generosity during a time of loss and sorrow. "Without the donor, I wouldn't be here," she affirmed.