Heart Transplant Fiasco: Organ ‘Burned’ in Improvised Container
Naples, Italy – A heart transplant intended for a two-year-old child at Monaldi Hospital in Naples on December 23, 2025, has become the subject of a serious investigation after the donor organ was reportedly rendered unusable due to improper transport. Sources close to the inquiry suggest the heart was transported in a common rigid plastic container, rather than a specialized technological box designed to maintain constant and controlled temperatures. This alleged oversight, which led to the organ being ‘burned’ by excessively low temperatures, has cast a dark shadow over the transplant procedure.
The Improvised Transport and Its Devastating Consequences
According to initial hypotheses being examined by investigators, the heart was damaged due to the use of dry ice, which can reach temperatures as low as -80 degrees Celsius, instead of traditional ice. This extreme cold is believed to have ‘burned’ a portion of the cardiac muscle fibers, rendering the organ untransplantable. The plastic container used for transport has since been seized by the NAS Carabinieri of Naples, who are coordinating with the Naples Public Prosecutor’s Office (VI section, PM Giuseppe Tittaferrante, Deputy Prosecutor Antonio Ricci) to shed light on the events of that fateful day.
The investigation extends to the NAS Carabinieri of Trento, who are examining aspects related to the dry ice, as Bolzano was the city where the organ was retrieved. On that day, medical teams from various locations, including Naples, were present for the retrieval of multiple organs. Authorities are now tasked with determining who procured the dry ice and who, if anyone, failed to conduct proper checks before the organ’s departure for Naples.
The Child’s Critical Condition and Ongoing Investigation
In the aftermath of the failed transplant, the Azienda dei Colli has announced the establishment of a daily medical bulletin, authorized by the family’s legal representative, to update the public on the child’s condition. As of 2:00 PM on February 15, 2026, the patient’s clinical condition remains stable but critically severe. The child is currently in intensive care, under strict monitoring and receiving specialized consultations. The patient remains on the transplant waiting list pending further evaluation.
The hospital management has reiterated its commitment to transparency and cooperation with inspecting and judicial authorities, assuring full support for all clinical, therapeutic, and assistance decisions made by the treating physicians, solely in the patient’s best interest. This incident has raised serious questions about the protocols and oversight in organ transportation, especially given the sensitive nature of such life-saving procedures.
The unfolding investigation aims to determine if there were any breaches of protocol, negligence, or other factors that contributed to the damage of the donor heart, ensuring accountability and preventing similar incidents in the future. The community watches anxiously as the fate of the young patient hangs in the balance, and the integrity of the organ transplant system faces intense scrutiny.
