{"id":8922,"date":"2025-10-21T09:03:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T06:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/?p=8922"},"modified":"2025-10-21T09:03:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T06:03:08","slug":"heart-transplantation-and-ventricular-assist-devices-in-jordan-a-successful-history-in-need-of-revival-source-jcs-conference-october-2025-session-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/heart-transplantation-and-ventricular-assist-devices-in-jordan-a-successful-history-in-need-of-revival-source-jcs-conference-october-2025-session-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart Transplantation and Ventricular Assist Devices in Jordan: A Successful History in Need of Revival Source: JCS Conference-October 2025, Session 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
Heart Transplantation and Ventricular Assist Devices in Jordan: A Successful History in Need of Revival<\/div>\n
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Source: JCS Conference-October 2025, Session 2<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Keynotes :<\/div>\n
1- A Respected Perspective<\/div>\n
During the JCS 2025 Conference, Dr. Razi Abu Anzeh \u2014 a pioneering cardiac surgeon who performed Jordan\u2019s last heart transplant less than a decade ago \u2014 shared profound reflections on the nation\u2019s remarkable journey in heart transplantation and emphasized the urgent need to revive this legacy of excellence.<\/div>\n
Session Coordinators: Dr. Firas Bader, Dr. Hanna Makhamreh\u00a0 |\u00a0 Chairpersons: Dr. Saed Jaber, Dr. Bassam Akasheh, Dr. Walid Dehmis, Dr. Mohammad Hajjiri, Dr. Ramzi Tabbalat, Dr. Eyas Almousa<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
2- A proud history<\/div>\n
Jordan performed around 18 heart transplants during the late 1980s and 1990s, following its historic first operation in 1985 \u2014 led by Dr. Daoud Hanania and Dr. Yousef Al-Qussous at KHMC.<\/div>\n
This milestone made Jordan the 8th country worldwide and the first in the Middle East to achieve a successful heart transplant.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
3- A long pause<\/div>\n
Since then, transplant activity has declined dramatically. Only two heart transplants have been performed in Jordan in recent years \u2014 in 2018 and 2020 \u2014 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.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
4- Why the stagnation?<\/div>\n
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 \u2014 a collective hesitation rooted in social, administrative, and spiritual factors.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
5- Religious clarity and new dialogue<\/div>\n
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 \u2014 once brain death is confirmed and life-support devices are withdrawn.<\/div>\n
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.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
6-Mechanical hearts \u2013 bridging the gap<\/div>\n
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.<\/div>\n
\u2022 LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device): supports the main pumping chamber (left ventricle).<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 RVAD (Right Ventricular Assist Device): supports the right side, pumping blood to the lungs.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 BiVAD: assists both ventricles when total failure occurs.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 These devices are often used as a \u201cBridge to Transplant,\u201d keeping patients alive for months \u2014 and in modern systems, even several years until a suitable donor heart becomes available.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 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.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Hospitalization is typically limited to 2\u20134 weeks after implantation, followed by periodic outpatient follow-up every 2\u20133 months in specialized heart-failure clinics.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
7- A message for general physicians<\/div>\n
Understanding these devices is essential for all clinicians \u2014 not only specialists.<\/div>\n
\u2022 VAD patients are community members, not ICU residents.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 They present in clinics, travel, and live with families while depending on continuous device function.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Every physician should recognize VAD driveline sites, battery systems, and early warning signs of low flow or infection.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Basic awareness can prevent emergencies and save lives before specialized care arrives.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
8- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) \u2013 measuring real progress<\/div>\n
To rebuild a sustainable transplant and VAD ecosystem, Jordan must track measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) \u2014 specific, quantifiable metrics that translate vision into action, such as:<\/div>\n
\u2022 Number of registered organ donors per million population.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Annual count of transplant and VAD implant procedures.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 One- and five-year post-transplant survival rates.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 National awareness index for organ donation.<\/span><\/div>\n
These indicators will help ensure accountability, transparency, and consistent improvement across all institutions involved.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
9- Looking ahead :<\/div>\n
The JCS Conference 2025 reignited hope that Jordan\u2019s legacy in heart transplantation can be revived, guided by science, faith, and collaboration.<\/div>\n
With pioneers like Dr. Razi Abu Anzeh and the readiness of the Fatwa Council to engage constructively, the path forward is clear:<\/div>\n
From awareness to action \u2014 and from a silent past to a living heartbeat for Jordan once again.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
10- Closing Note and Unified Awareness Program<\/div>\n
\u2022 A national awareness and education program should be launched under the supervision of the Jordan Cardiac Society (JCS) and the session coordinators.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 The goal: to ensure the success and sustainability of the heart and organ donation initiative through structured, continuous public education.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 The program must include a multidisciplinary team \u2014 physicians, nurses, administrators, and community leaders \u2014 trained to deliver unified messages.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 A standardized communication pathway should be established for approaching and counseling the families of potential donors, ensuring clarity, empathy, and national consistency.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 The protocol must be scientifically and ethically approved, aligning all stakeholders under one transparent framework.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 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.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Core principle: awareness is the foundation of successful donation \u2014 and collective coordination is the key to restoring trust and hope in Jordan\u2019s transplant future.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 \u2014 a pioneering cardiac surgeon who performed Jordan\u2019s last heart transplant less than a decade ago \u2014 shared profound […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":145,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/145"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8922"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8922\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8923,"href":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8922\/revisions\/8923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jordan-cardiac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}