Successful 18th Heart Transplant in Kuwait for 18-Year-Old Patient

The Ministry of Health announced the successful completion of the eighteenth heart transplant in Kuwait, performed on an 18-year-old patient at the Salman Al-Abdullah Heart Center. This achievement adds a new milestone to the national heart transplant program, reflecting the advancement of medical services and the capability of specialized teams to carry out complex surgeries.

The Ministry clarified that the patient suffered from a congenital heart defect that led to advanced heart muscle failure and severe symptoms affecting his daily life, necessitating a heart transplant. Following the availability of a donor heart and the completion of medical evaluations to confirm compatibility, the surgery was performed at the center.

On this occasion, Dr. Badr Al-Ayyad, Head of the Cardiology Department and Head of the Heart Failure and Transplant Unit at the Salman Al-Abdullah Heart Center, stated that the success of the operation was the result of integrated medical and specialized efforts. He emphasized that it represents an important step in consolidating the heart transplant program and providing advanced treatment options for patients with advanced heart failure.

The heart transplant was performed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Hadab and Dr. Mohammed Al-Ayyar, with the participation of Dr. Khalid Al-Atiqi from Saudi Arabia. Dr. Badr Al-Ayyad supervised the medical and immunological aspects of the procedure.

Dr. Al-Ayyad praised the crucial role of the organ procurement team, led by Dr. Sajja Sarour, emphasizing that coordination among the organ procurement, transplant, surgical, anesthesia, and intensive care teams, along with nursing and technical staff, forms the foundation for executing these highly precise and integrated procedures across all stages of care.

Dr. Al-Ayyad expressed deep gratitude to the donor and his family for their noble humanitarian generosity, noting that organ donation gives hope to patients on waiting lists. He added that continuing to develop the program and enhancing cooperation among various specialties contributes to expanding the benefits of this vital service in Kuwait.