Cohen Children’s Medical Center (CCMC), part of Northwell Health, has completed its first paediatric heart transplant, which is claimed to be the first procedure of its kind undertaken in Long Island, New York, US.
The transplant was carried out a few weeks after the facility received state approval.
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This seven-hour procedure was performed on a young patient from Queens who was admitted in March with acute heart failure.
CCMC Paediatric Services chair and senior vice-president Charles Schleien said: “This operation was the culmination of years of hard, dedicated work.
“I am continually astounded by the miracles the physicians at Cohen Children’s Medical Center perform every day. Our amazing team of heart transplant specialists have given this patient a new lease on life, and he is just the first of many more to come.”
The surgery was led by Timothy Martens, the CCMC’s surgical director of paediatric heart transplants.
Martens said: “The complexity of these procedures is matched by the profound impact they have, not just on the young patients, but on their families and the wider community. It’s about renewing hope, restoring normalcy, and watching these children grow up to lead full, vibrant lives.”
The process involves a critical timing element where, once a donor is identified, the heart must be transported swiftly and safely to the hospital while the patient is prepared for the transplant.
CCMC now hosts the first paediatric heart transplant programme on Long Island.
The United Network of Organ Sharing data indicates that 55% of all paediatric heart transplants in the State of New York occur within the CCMC’s service area.
The transplant procedures take place in the Cohen Children’s Damaghi Family Pediatric Surgical Operating Complex, part of the Blumenfeld Family Pavilion.
This facility, which opened in 2022, cost $110m and spans 24,000ft².
It includes eight operating suites designed with children in mind, featuring hidden instruments and large photo walls.
The complex allows young patients to listen to music, watch videos before surgery, and enjoy various play spaces.
