Experience of heart retrievals in India - lessons learned over a decade

Heart transplant (HT) surgery is a complex, multi-stage procedure that demands precision at every step to ensure successful outcomes. It involves a delicate interplay of recipient and donor factors, as well as logistical considerations. After a decade of performing these highly demanding surgeries, our experiences and the lessons learned thereof are being shared so that they can guide new teams planning to establish a transplant unit. This article also highlights multiple challenging scenarios encountered by transplant teams during donor heart retrieval, along with innovative strategies to address them.