Abstract
Introduction:
Heart transplantation remains the gold standard of therapy for advanced and end-stage heart failure. Ischemia time during the transportation of the organ is a critical point.
Aims:
In this report we present a case in which heart transplantation should be performed and the Organ Care System (OCS®) was used. The donor was a 46-year-old male with a spontaneous intracranial bleeding. Inotropic support was neccesary for stabilization, and left atrial pressure was 20mmHg. Macroscopic examination showed coronary aretry sclerosis. The donor heart was put into the organcare system for 8 hours and 48 minutes. Additionally we performed coronary angiography of the donor heart within the Organs care System (OCS®). During transportation various hemodynamic and metabolic parameters were evaluated: Heart rate, coronary flow, aortic pressure, lactate absorbance, pH-value and other electrolytes which were all within normal range.
Discussion:
Although the heart was not transplanted, according to our knowledge the reached time frame of organ transport is the longest period a human heart ever remaind in the OCS. Moreover, final organ assessment was successfully accomplished by OCS-coronary angiography for the first time.