Salman Al-Dabbous Center performs two heart transplants in 48 hours in rare life-saving feat

• Professor Al-Tarzi praises the Ministry of Health for its steadfast support and trust, noting the hands-on involvement of Minister Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi and the guidance of Undersecretary Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi.
• He also commended the collective efforts of all participating teams, including cardiac surgery, cardiology, heart failure specialists, intensive care, anesthesia, physiotherapy, nursing and pharmacy services, saying the achievement reflects a fully integrated institutional approach within Salman Al-Dabbous Heart Center.

The Ministry of Health has announced the successful completion of two consecutive heart transplant surgeries at Salman Al-Dabbous Heart Center, performed on Friday and Saturday by specialized national medical teams.

The first operation was carried out on a 10-year-old child, followed by a second transplant for a patient in his fifties, raising the total number of heart transplants performed in Kuwait to 13 since the launch of the National Heart Transplant Program.

The ministry said the achievement underscores the growing maturity of Kuwait’s healthcare system and its ability to manage some of the most delicate and complex highly specialized medical procedures. It reflects advanced clinical readiness and the effectiveness of national teams in delivering life-saving interventions for patients with end-stage heart failure.

According to the Ministry of Health, the successful operations mark a significant addition to the country’s organ transplant programs and reinforce Kuwait’s position among nations capable of providing heart transplant services in line with advanced international standards.

These efforts directly contribute to improving patients’ quality of life and demonstrate sustained investment in medical expertise and modern healthcare infrastructure.

The ministry added that the accelerated pace of successful transplants signals a qualitative leap in the local heart transplant program, offering a critical therapeutic option for patients with advanced heart failure.

The achievement also strengthens medical self-sufficiency and confirms the preparedness of national teams to handle high-risk microsurgical procedures, forming a strategic pillar in building a comprehensive national organ transplantation system.

Consultant cardiac surgeon at Salman Al-Dabbous Center, Professor Riyadh Al-Tarzi, described the milestone as evidence of steady clinical and technical progress. He noted that eight heart transplant operations were successfully performed in 2025 alone, compared to one case in 2019, one in 2021, one in 2023 and two in 2024, all in coordination with the national organ provision program.

Professor Al-Tarzi explained that the center has also implanted 84 left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) in patients suffering from severe heart failure unresponsive to conventional treatment. These devices serve as mechanical support for the left ventricle, either as a bridge to transplantation or as a long-term therapeutic option for selected patients.

In addition, the medical teams have successfully implanted the IMPELLA 5.5 cardiac support device in 20 patients. This advanced mechanical system is used to provide temporary circulatory support in cases of acute cardiac collapse or during complex cardiac interventions, ensuring hemodynamic stability until cardiac function recovers.

Professor Al-Tarzi praised the support and confidence extended by the Ministry of Health, highlighting the direct follow-up of Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi and the guidance of Undersecretary Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi. He emphasized that the availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure played a decisive role in achieving these outcomes.

He also commended the collective efforts of all participating teams, including cardiac surgery, cardiology, heart failure specialists, intensive care, anesthesia, physiotherapy, nursing and pharmacy services, noting that the achievement reflects a fully integrated institutional approach within Salman Al-Dabbous Heart Center.