Reuse of a Previously Transplanted Heart

Heart transplantation remains the gold standard treatment for end-stage heart failure. However, the persistent shortage of donor organs continues to limit the number of procedures performed worldwide. Several strategies have been developed to expand the donor pool, including the reuse of a previously transplanted cardiac graft, which represents a rare alternative. We report the first case of cardiac graft reuse performed in France, and the ninth case described worldwide. A 61-year-old man with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy and cardiogenic shock underwent urgent heart transplantation using a graft that had been previously transplanted into another recipient, who subsequently developed brain death. Pretransplant evaluation confirmed preserved graft function, allowing for retransplantation. The postoperative course was initially complicated by vasoplegic shock but evolved favorably. At the 3-year follow-up, the patient remained in a good functional status with preserved cardiac function.