peace and puerta de hierro performed the first lung transplant in children in the region

Spain, February 2013.- Puerta de Hierro – Majadahonda and La Paz hospitals have successfully performed the first lung transplant child in the region. The transplant was made last December 16 th at a 13-year-old boy born in the La Paz Hospital and diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 6 months. Since then is followed by the pediatric pulmonology and gastroenterology services.

The transplant has been possible thanks to the joint project between the La Paz University Hospital and the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda create a comprehensive programme of child pulmonary transplantation in order to expand the range and improve the quality of care children. With the completion of this transplant community becomes the first Spanish region to perform all types of organ transplantation, adult and child, accredited in our country by the national organisation of transplants.

La Paz Hospital is Center of national and international reference in the treatment of children. Since 1986 it is reference in the Pediatric transplant center and offers all programs accredited in Spain. The Hospital Puerta de Hierro has the unit of lung transplant whose experience, activity and dedication makes its results put the Center among the best internationally.

Near seven-hour transplant

The night of 15 December the extraction team of two Thoracic Surgeons of the iron gate Hospital and a pediatric surgeon in La Paz moved to hospital where occurred the donation. simultaneously pediatric pulmonology team prepared the patient for the intervention. The patient went to the operating room at 06:50 hours on December 16, starting the intervention at 08:40 hours, when came the extraction team. A sequential bipulmonar transplant took place.

After the first hours in the pediatric intensive care unit with a favorable evolution, the patient was extubated on the morning of the 17th of December. He stayed in this unit 17 days being transferred to plant January 2, where is currently.

The disease in the patient had affected especially the respiratory system with a progressive deterioration in their quality of life. The need of ventilation was increased up to prevent him from performing activities of daily living as college or simply walk. The deterioration of his clinical situation and ventilatory parameters, made him a transplant candidate in 2011, first at the Hospital Vall d ’ Hebron in Barcelona and from October 2012 in La Paz.