Military helicopter airlifts donor organs from Riga to Vilnius

The donor heart was implanted in an infant, the Health Ministry said.

"The transplantation is exclusive for many aspects. For the first time in the Lithuanian history of transplantology, a heart was received from a neighboring country. It was the first time when our surgeons went to the neighboring country to collect the heart. Another exclusive feature is that we're talking about an infant whose heart was incapable to perform its function from his birth and the transplantation was the only way to save his life. There was no hope of getting a donor fast. Experienced doctors can hardly find a similar story in their practice when a donor organ for an infant is received so fast," the ministry said in a press release.

The Lithuanian infant was in surgery for four hours, the procedure went well.

According to the press release circulated by the Defense Ministry, the organs were transported from Riga International Airport to Santariškių Clinic in Vilnius by a crew of Mi-8 military helicopter.

"In response to a request from the National Transplantation Bureau to dispatch a military helicopter for urgent transportation of donor organs, the task was performed by a helicopter crew headed by Captain Laimis Aleknavičius on duty at the Air Force search and rescue post," the ministry added.

Transporting donor organs is one of the peace-time tasks of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in line with 2001 agreement with the National Transplantation Bureau and the State Center of Reconstructive Surgery.

The Health Ministry said three children were awaiting transplantation in Lithuania at the moment.

In addition to the latest heart transplantation, Lithuanian children's transplantologists have transplanted hearts for two children under the age of three. Lithuania is the only Baltic country to perform the surgeries.