Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
A High-Fidelity Porcine Model of Orthotopic Heart Transplantation Following Donation after Circulatory Death
Published on: June 6, 2025
Successful heart transplantation using a donor heart afflicted by takotsubo cardiomyopathy
Yazhini Ravi1, Ryan Campagna1, Paola C Rosas1
1Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas (Ravi, Sai-Sudhakar); the College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (Campagna); the Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Temple, Texas (Rosas); the Division of Cardiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (Essa, Hasan, Emani); and the Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland (Higgins).
Insights
Mild takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, did not impede its use as a donor organ in a successful heart transplant. This case demonstrates the viability of using hearts with this condition for transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplant Surgery
- Cardiomyopathy Research
Background:
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as stress cardiomyopathy or apical ballooning syndrome, is characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction.
- It typically occurs in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease, distinguishing it from other cardiac conditions.
Observation:
- This report details a unique case involving a donor heart diagnosed with mild takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
- The heart was considered for and subsequently used in an orthotopic heart transplant procedure.
Findings:
- The transplanted heart with mild takotsubo cardiomyopathy demonstrated preserved function post-transplantation.
- This suggests that Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, in its mild form, may not be an absolute contraindication for organ donation.
Implications:
- This finding expands the potential donor pool for heart transplantation.
- Further research is warranted to establish criteria for the safe utilization of donor hearts with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
Abstract:
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as apical ballooning syndrome, stress cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, is a disease characterized by transient ventricular dysfunction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. Herein, we present a case in which a heart with mild takotsubo cardiomyopathy was utilized as the donor organ for an orthotopic heart transplant.
