[Distant heart procurement for transplantation].
BACKGROUND
The low availability of organ donors is a serious hindrance to heart transplantation. Long-distance organ procurement has been accepted as an option despite longer ischemic time for the heart.


METHODS
Long-distance procurement from outside Mexico City in adult patients with terminal heart failure submitted to orthotopic heart transplantation between February 1st 2011, and January 31st 2012, was assessed. Ischemic time, distance from Mexico City, and perioperative and short-time mortality were determined.


RESULTS
There were 14 orthotopic heart transplants during the analyzed period. In 12 cases long-distance heart procurement was required. Mean age of recipients was 42.7 years (range between 17 and 61 years). Seven patients were male and five female. Mean ischemic time was 228.58 minutes. The longest distance of procurement for land and air travel was 2,319 km; and the lowest, 22.5 km. Perioperative mortality was 8.33% (one patient), and there were 2 short-term deaths due to non-cardiac complications. In this series we included a case of heart-kidney transplantation from same donor.


CONCLUSIONS
At our hospital, long-distance procurement for heart transplantation is a useful procedure with good results.
División de Cirugía Cardiotorácica, UMAE, Hospital General Dr. Gaudencio González Garza, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, IMSS, México D.F., Mexico. gcareaga3@gmail.com
Guillermo
G
Careaga-Reyna
Hugo
H
Zetina-Tun
Cesar
C
Villaseñor-Colín
Luis Manuel
LM
Alvarez Sánchez
Rafael
R
Urías-Báez
Gustavo Armando
GA
de la Cerda-Belmont
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000401:Aircraft; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014186:Transportation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult