Alpha News

Italy: Two-Year-Old at Risk of Death Due to Incorrect Heart Transplant Procedure

Published February 12, 2026, 14:31

A serious medical error in Italy is putting the life of a two-year-old child at risk. Instead of ice, dry ice was used to preserve the heart intended for transplant, causing extensive damage to the organ. The heart was transported from Bolzano in northern Italy to Naples. Despite the error, the transplant was performed at the Monaldi Hospital in Naples. The child is in a pharmacological coma and his mother desperately seeks a new graft, as his condition deteriorates and affects his liver. The situation is critical, and the race against time is ongoing. Two prosecutorial investigations have been launched to investigate how and why the error occurred and why the damaged heart was used in the transplant. Two doctors at the hospital have been temporarily suspended from their duties. Monaldi Hospital has previously achieved successes in transplants. The incident has caused unrest in Italy, raising questions about the safety of transplants and the responsibility of doctors. The investigation is expected to shed light on the circumstances that led to this tragic mistake.