This new record occurred on November 29. According to data from the National Transplant Organization (ONT), Spain records for the first time in its history the management of a total of 19 deceased donors in a single day, 1 of them from international cooperation. The great generosity of the citizens and the enormous efficiency of the Spanish coordination and transplant network have made this intense activity possible.
November has been an exceptional month: in addition to breaking a new record, there have been 2 days in which 15 donors were counted in each of them, compared to the 6 daily average donors in 2018.
The solidarity of these 19 families has allowed a total of 38 transplants. Of these, 23 have been renal, 10 hepatic, 2 bipulmonary, 2 cardiac and 1 combined pancreas-kidney transplant.
2 of the transplants have been performed in a situation of 'zero urgency' (1 liver and 1 cardiac). In addition, of the kidney transplants, 2 of the patients were included in the Hyperimmunized Transplant Access Program (PATHI).
In the different operations, 27 hospitals from 13 autonomous communities have participated (Andalusia, Aragon, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, Castile and Leon, Valencian Community, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia and the Basque Country). A French hospital is added to them (See Annex 1).
The previous record (December 14, 2015) was set at 15 deceased donors and 1 living renal donor in less than 24 hours. On that day, 38 transplants were performed.
Collaboration of public and private organizations
The ONT has also counted on this occasion with the collaboration of different public and private organizations, as well as the emergency and civil protection services of the autonomous communities involved. In addition, 8 flights were mobilized to move equipment and organs, 5 of them on private flights and 3 on commercial flights, which has involved the participation of 12 airports.
The Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare recalls that the solidarity of citizens, together with the work of hospital transplant coordinators and the Spanish transplant network as a whole, has placed Spain as a world leader in this field for the past 27 years uninterruptedly
Despite this important activity, both from the Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare, and from the National Transplant Organization itself, they encourage all citizens to continue donating organs, tissues and cells, because with their gesture they save lives.
List of hospitals that have participated in donation and transplant operations
Ministry of Health, Consumption and Welfare