The situation of a two-year-old boy, who underwent an unsuccessful heart transplant in December at Monaldi Hospital in Naples, remains critical. The child received an organ that turned out to be damaged, leading to serious multi-organ complications. Although doctors considered stopping treatment, the patient's mother confirmed that her son remains on the waiting list for a new organ. The prosecutor's office is investigating possible errors in communication among medical staff.

Error during transplantation

A two-year-old child received a damaged heart during an operation on December 23, which caused a series of severe organ complications.

Resignation and investigation

The cardiologist responsible for follow-up resigned from his position six days after the procedure and was questioned by the prosecutor's office.

Chance for a new organ

Despite reports of a cerebral hemorrhage, the boy remains on the waiting list for another transplant, and doctors are planning nationwide consultations.

Dramatic events at Monaldi Hospital in Naples began on December 23, 2025, when a two-year-old patient underwent a heart transplant operation. Unfortunately, after the procedure, it was discovered that the newly implanted organ was damaged, leading to a mistake with tragic consequences. The child's condition deteriorated rapidly – the boy suffered cerebral hemorrhages, infections, and failure of the lungs and kidneys. For the last two months, the patient has been kept alive by medical equipment, and experts are debating the sense of continuing therapy. Some medical opinions, including specialists from the Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome, suggested that another transplant might be impossible due to the extreme exhaustion of the body. Despite pessimistic diagnoses, the boy's mother has not lost hope. After consulting with department heads, she confirmed that her son is still on the transplant list. Doctors are currently considering the use of a Berlin Heart, an artificial heart designed for children. However, its implantation requires the patient to be in a stable general condition, which, given the current bleeding and infections, poses a huge challenge. The Italian transplant system is based on the National Transplant Center (CNT), which coordinates organ allocation according to strict medical criteria and the distance between centers.Parallel to the fight for the child's life, the Naples Prosecutor's Office is conducting an intensive investigation. Investigators are examining the thread of communication errors that may have led to the implantation of a defective organ. The cardiologist responsible for postoperative care, who resigned just six days after the procedure, was questioned as a witness. The doctor's testimony may be crucial in determining who made the decision to continue the operation despite the risks. "There is always hope, my son is a fighter." Course of the boy: 2025-12-23: 0, 2025-12-29: 6, 2026-02-16: 55 2 years — age of the patient fighting for his life in Naples

Mentioned People

  • Rachele Adorisio — Doctor from Bambino Gesù Hospital, co-author of an opinion on the child's health condition
  • Lorenzo Galletti — Doctor from Bambino Gesù Hospital analyzing the transplant case in Naples