Overview
- The operation was performed on July 17 at Aou Sant'Andrea in Rome, led by Prof. Erino A. Rendina after an idea from surgeons Cecilia Menna and Beatrice Trabalza Marinucci.
- Doctors operated with extracorporeal circulation and cardiac arrest, removing the entire diseased pulmonary artery, the left lung, and a portion of the trachea before reconstructing the airway.
- A cryopreserved human arterial segment of about 5 cm sourced from a Barcelona tissue bank was implanted to restore blood flow from the heart to the right lung.
- Postoperative imaging confirmed vessel patency, and the over‑70 patient was discharged roughly four weeks later and is reported to be in good condition.
- The team said synthetic or biocompatible conduits risk obstruction, presenting this technique as an additional option that now awaits longer‑term outcomes and broader validation.