Slovenia has long been recognized for its high-quality healthcare system and outstanding medical achievements. Recently, a team of doctors at the University Medical Centre (UKC) Ljubljana successfully performed a heart transplant on a six-month-old infant—the youngest recipient in the country’s history.
This complex and highly demanding procedure represents a milestone in Slovenian medicine, requiring exceptional precision, expertise, and seamless coordination among the medical team.
The operation was carried out with excellence and marks a new chapter in pediatric transplant surgery in Slovenia.
-
A team of doctors at the University Medical Centre (UKC) Ljubljana with parents of the little fighter. Photo: Žan Rutar
A New Heart, a New Life
The six-month-old baby was born with a severe congenital heart defect and had been dependent on intensive medical care since birth. Despite the tireless efforts of doctors, the child’s survival was impossible without a new heart. When a suitable donor was found abroad, a team of Slovenian specialists acted immediately.
Performing a heart transplant on such a young child is an extraordinary challenge—only a handful of such procedures are carried out in Europe each year on infants under one year old. In this case, the operation was urgent, as the baby’s heart had failed due to a genetic condition affecting the heart muscle. The surgery was a success, and the infant is now recovering well.
A highly experienced team of cardiac surgeons and anesthesiologists from UKC Ljubljana, along with pediatric cardiologists and intensivists from the hospital’s Pediatric Clinic, played a crucial role in both the preoperative care and the surgical procedure itself.
A Testament to Expertise and Dedication
Slovenia has a well-established tradition of successful heart transplants. The first heart transplant in an adult was performed at UKC Ljubljana in 1990, and today, the country is among the leaders in this field. Particularly remarkable is Slovenia’s pediatric heart surgery program, where a team of skilled cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and intensivists provide life-saving care for the youngest patients with the most complex heart conditions.
This latest operation has once again demonstrated that Slovenian medicine can stand alongside the world’s top medical centers. To date, nine heart transplants have been performed in Slovenia on children under the age of 16. Before this case, the youngest heart transplant recipient in Slovenia was an 11-month-old baby in 2013.
-
This is the youngest transplantation. Photo: UKC archive
-
Doctors train at international cardiovascular surgery centers, teach at the Ljubljana and Maribor medical faculties, take part in research, and establish international connections. Photo: UKC archive
A Story of Hope for the Future
This successful transplant is not only a medical triumph but also a story of hope, solidarity, and dedication. Organ donation is crucial for saving lives, making public awareness about its importance essential. With this achievement, Slovenia has reaffirmed its status as a country with world-class medical experts and a modern healthcare system that provides top-level care even for its youngest patients.
The little fighter who received a new heart is now recovering, and his story serves as an inspiration for all who believe in the power of medicine, knowledge, and human compassion.
Date: 3. March 2025
Time to read: 1 min
