Heart Transplantation and Ventricular Assist Devices in Jordan: A Successful History in Need of Revival Source: JCS Conference-October 2025, Session 2
Heart Transplantation and Ventricular Assist Devices in Jordan: A Successful History in Need of Revival
Source: JCS Conference-October 2025, Session 2
Keynotes :
1- A Respected Perspective
During the JCS 2025 Conference, Dr. Razi Abu Anzeh — a pioneering cardiac surgeon who performed Jordan’s last heart transplant less than a decade ago — shared profound reflections on the nation’s remarkable journey in heart transplantation and emphasized the urgent need to revive this legacy of excellence.
Session Coordinators: Dr. Firas Bader, Dr. Hanna Makhamreh | Chairpersons: Dr. Saed Jaber, Dr. Bassam Akasheh, Dr. Walid Dehmis, Dr. Mohammad Hajjiri, Dr. Ramzi Tabbalat, Dr. Eyas Almousa
2- A proud history
Jordan performed around 18 heart transplants during the late 1980s and 1990s, following its historic first operation in 1985 — led by Dr. Daoud Hanania and Dr. Yousef Al-Qussous at KHMC.
This milestone made Jordan the 8th country worldwide and the first in the Middle East to achieve a successful heart transplant.
3- A long pause
Since then, transplant activity has declined dramatically. Only two heart transplants have been performed in Jordan in recent years — in 2018 and 2020 — with no additional cases reported since. The latest from a female donor (daughter of a physician), whose recipient remains in excellent health and continues his professional life without interruption.
4- Why the stagnation?
Despite medical progress and public awareness through modern media, organ donation remains culturally limited. The main barrier is not technology, but a weak donation culture — a collective hesitation rooted in social, administrative, and spiritual factors.
5- Religious clarity and new dialogue
The Director of the Iftaa Department (Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat) confirmed that organ donation, including the heart, is fully permissible under Islamic law, as approved by the current Fatwa Council — once brain death is confirmed and life-support devices are withdrawn.
After reviewing the scientific rationale for timing in organ recovery, the Mufti expressed his openness to organize a joint meeting with the Jordan Cardiac Society (JCS) to align the ethical, medical, and procedural frameworks for heart transplantation in Jordan.
6-Mechanical hearts – bridging the gap
Before a donor heart becomes available, many patients with advanced heart failure can now survive thanks to mechanical circulatory support devices, which temporarily or permanently replace the pumping function of the heart.
• LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device): supports the main pumping chamber (left ventricle).
• RVAD (Right Ventricular Assist Device): supports the right side, pumping blood to the lungs.
• BiVAD: assists both ventricles when total failure occurs.
• These devices are often used as a “Bridge to Transplant,” keeping patients alive for months — and in modern systems, even several years until a suitable donor heart becomes available.
• The latest models (like HeartMate 3) allow patients to live at home with portable batteries and compact controllers, returning to their work and family life.
• Hospitalization is typically limited to 2–4 weeks after implantation, followed by periodic outpatient follow-up every 2–3 months in specialized heart-failure clinics.
7- A message for general physicians
Understanding these devices is essential for all clinicians — not only specialists.
• VAD patients are community members, not ICU residents.
• They present in clinics, travel, and live with families while depending on continuous device function.
• Every physician should recognize VAD driveline sites, battery systems, and early warning signs of low flow or infection.
• Basic awareness can prevent emergencies and save lives before specialized care arrives.
8- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) – measuring real progress
To rebuild a sustainable transplant and VAD ecosystem, Jordan must track measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) — specific, quantifiable metrics that translate vision into action, such as:
• Number of registered organ donors per million population.
• Annual count of transplant and VAD implant procedures.
• One- and five-year post-transplant survival rates.
• National awareness index for organ donation.
These indicators will help ensure accountability, transparency, and consistent improvement across all institutions involved.
9- Looking ahead :
The JCS Conference 2025 reignited hope that Jordan’s legacy in heart transplantation can be revived, guided by science, faith, and collaboration.
With pioneers like Dr. Razi Abu Anzeh and the readiness of the Fatwa Council to engage constructively, the path forward is clear:
From awareness to action — and from a silent past to a living heartbeat for Jordan once again.
10- Closing Note and Unified Awareness Program
• A national awareness and education program should be launched under the supervision of the Jordan Cardiac Society (JCS) and the session coordinators.
• The goal: to ensure the success and sustainability of the heart and organ donation initiative through structured, continuous public education.
• The program must include a multidisciplinary team — physicians, nurses, administrators, and community leaders — trained to deliver unified messages.
• A standardized communication pathway should be established for approaching and counseling the families of potential donors, ensuring clarity, empathy, and national consistency.
• The protocol must be scientifically and ethically approved, aligning all stakeholders under one transparent framework.
• The campaign should be supported by houses of worship, media outlets, and educational institutions, creating a sustained public dialogue on the value and humanity of donation.
• Core principle: awareness is the foundation of successful donation — and collective coordination is the key to restoring trust and hope in Jordan’s transplant future.