Panamas first heart transplant
DOCTORS of the Social Security Fund (CSS) performed Panama’s first successful heart transplant on Friday, March 11.
The surgical team was composed of four surgeons, including Dr. Miguel Guerra and Dr. Manuel Ochoa and was under the direction of cardiologist Dr. Themistocles Diaz. The intensive care specialists were Dr Nelson Ferrer and Dr Julio Sandoval.
Cardiovascular surgeon Miguel Guerra said that the operation was performed on a “young” woman patient CSS, at the Punta Pacific Hospital, because at the time the CSS was short two specialists and an intensive care bed.
“The transplant was done with two years of planning and some 51 meetings.” said Guerra.
“We must not forget the great hero … the donor, a young man who was very ill,”
The patient is in good condition and still in recovery.
OTHER TRANSPLANTS
November 17 is Panama’s National Day of organ donation because on that date in 1998, the first donor transplant was performed in Panama.
In January 2005 the first bone marrow transplant was performed, and in March 2011 the first liver transplant on a 33 year old patient.
Until November last there have been 674 kidney transplants, 32 liver, 150 bone marrow. and 150 cornea transplants.