Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital transplanted a heart that broke the record for distance a donor heart successfully traveled.
The donor heart traveled a total of 2,506 nautical miles from Juneau, Alaska, to Boston inside a Paragonix SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System, according to a May 23 Paragonix Technologies news release. The system allows physicians to monitor and maintain stable temperatures for the heart.
"Traditionally, the longer an organ spends between donors, the greater the risk of complications," David D'Alessandro, MD, surgical director of the heart transplant program at the hospital, said in the release. "Five years ago, I could never have imagined this journey being possible. The fact that we were able to transport this organ safely and successfully over such a long distance is a testament to the value of advanced organ preservation and the dedication of everyone involved. By continuing to push the boundaries in this area, we can help to ensure that more patients in need have access to life-saving donor organs, regardless of where they are located."