Surgeons ready Dominican Republic’s first heart transplant

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s first heart transplant is being planned for next week in the Cardio-Neuro-Ophthalmology and Transplant Center (Cecanot), which would establish the National Heart Transplant Program in the country.

Six Spanish specialists will be in the country from June 25 to July 4, headed by the Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery Hospital Queen Sofia of Spain, Ignacio Muñoz, to conduct prctice one or two transplants with a team of previously trained Dominicans, with extensive experience in organ transplants.

National Transplant Coordination (Incort) director Fernando Morales said at least 14 patients with failing heart are candidates for a transplant, each at a cost of around RD$500,000, covered by Cecanot.