52 heart transplants: For the first time, more than 50 patients received a donor heart within a year at Düsseldorf University Hospital (UKD). This consolidates the UKD's position as the second-largest heart transplant centre in Germany.
“What makes me particularly happy is that we have consistently very good results in Düsseldorf in terms of complications, with over 90 percent of patients surviving the difficult procedure and the first year after the operation,” says Prof. Dr. Udo Boeken, surgical director of the heart transplant programme at the UKD. “This is proof of the high level of expertise we have been able to build up here in Düsseldorf in the field of heart transplants – from the cardiac technicians and nursing staff in the operating theatre and on the ward to the experts in anaesthesia, cardiology and cardiac surgery,” says Prof. Boeken.
The age range of the patients treated is broad: the youngest patient to receive a donor heart in 2025 is under 30. The oldest man was 69 when he left the hospital with a new heart. The oldest woman was 68. The patient with the longest waiting time had to wait almost six years until a suitable donor heart was finally found at the end of 2025.
29-year-old receives second donor heart
One of the most spectacular cases from last year was the operation on Sebastian Jost from Solingen, who received his second donor heart at the age of 29. “He had to undergo his first transplant at an early age,” says Dr. Bedri Ramadani, Deputy Director of the Clinic for Cardiac Surgery at the UKD. Sebastian Jost was transferred from Cologne to Düsseldorf for the operation. ‘The University Hospitals of Cologne and Düsseldorf cooperate very closely when it comes to heart transplants,’ says Prof. Dr. Artur Lichtenberg, Director of the Clinic for Cardiac Surgery in Düsseldorf. “This arrangement benefits both hospitals and patients, who can be cared for close to home for most of their hospital stay.” Sebastian Jost is now on his way to completing his vocational baccalaureate diploma. In August, he will begin training as a bank clerk. “Physically, I am now fitter than when I was admitted to hospital and continue to make very good progress,” says the Solingen native.
Overall, the heart transplant programme at Düsseldorf University Hospital has a very large catchment area that extends far beyond the borders of North Rhine-Westphalia. “We greatly value the trusting cooperation with other hospitals, which enables us to ensure that our shared patients receive the best possible treatment,” emphasises Prof. Dr. Hug Aubin, senior consultant at the Clinic for Cardiac Surgery.
The heart transplant programme at Düsseldorf University Hospital:
With 52 heart transplants in 2025, Düsseldorf University Hospital (UKD) has once again become the second largest centre for heart transplants in Germany. A year earlier, 44 patients received a donor heart in Düsseldorf. In 2023, the number was 47. "The fact that our programme can continue to grow steadily is thanks to the tremendous commitment of all the professional groups involved," said Prof. Lichtenberg. "I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone."
Eurotransplant:
The Eurotransplant area is an association of eight European countries that allocates donor organs. According to the Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG), the aim of the allocation process is to achieve the best possible match between donor and recipient organs to minimise the risk of organ rejection. “Eurotransplant operates on the basis of a central database containing all the important information about patients on the waiting list, donors, and donated organs. The cross-border network enables transplants to be organised quickly and precisely.”
Author: Jörn Grabert
Photo ©UKD