Third year of fruitful collaboration between the Siena University Hospital Company (Aou Senese) and the Padua University Hospital Company (AOU Padova), in the context of heart and lung transplant activities. At the Certosa di Pontignano, on 20 and 21 June, the professionals of the two companies discussed various topics, to increase knowledge and strengthen relationships between the two reference centers for Tuscany and Veneto. The event was opened by the lectio magistralis on the “State of the art of the transplant network in Italy” held by Dr. Giuseppe Feltrin, general director of the National Transplant Center.
«For the National Transplant Center – states Dr. Feltrin – it is essential to invest in the culture of organ donation. All regions can grow in these areas to encourage the transplant activity of our country. In 2023 compared to the previous year we increased transplants in Italy by 15%, and lung and heart transplants are constantly growing. For the future, it is necessary to support heartfelt donation paths in particular by investing in research. For the CNT it is essential to continue the fruitful collaboration with companies, to have continuity also on the scientific activities front.
Among the objectives – concludes the director of the National Transplant Center – there is also that of setting up a task force with the virtuous regions in terms of donation, and Tuscany and Veneto will certainly be present among these, to share proposals for improvement for the regions that present a need to implement this type of culture”.
The first workshop between the two companies was held, again at the Certosa di Pontignano in 2022, while in 2023 it was Padua that hosted the professionals of the Aou Senese, and on the occasion a significant collaboration agreement was signed on the two transplants, which this year led to the structuring of shared research lines, with relevant scientific publications, and exchanges of experiences, with trained doctors and specialists who went to Padua for a training period and vice versa. Furthermore, collaboration has been established on the most complex cases, both in the field of heart and lung transplantation, with the activation of teleconsultation.
The third appointment was therefore held in 2024 which saw, in addition to the lectio magistralis of Dr. Feltrin, the part of institutional greetings with Roberto Di Pietra, Rector of the University of Siena, Simone Bezzini, Councilor for the Right to Health of the Tuscany Region, Francesca Cesareo , President of the Health and Social Services Commission of the municipality of Siena, Chiara Lazzeri, Regional Coordinator of the Tuscany Transplant Organization (OTT) and Pantaleo Corlianò, Operations Director of the Regional Transplant Center of Veneto, concluded by the interventions of the two general directors of Aou Senese and AOU Padua, Antonio Barretta and Giuseppe Dal Ben.
«We care a lot about this collaboration – explains Professor Barretta – which is now in its third year producing excellent results in terms of research, clinical assistance and training. The objectives we have set ourselves up to this point have been achieved, and this signal is a confirmation of the desire to further strengthen the transplant procedures of our hospital, which in 2023 recorded an increase in volumes compared to 2022″.
«Padua and Siena – comments Dr. Dal Ben – have discussed in recent twelve months, after the signing of the memorandum of understanding, the clinical paths adopted to trigger a process of continuous improvement also with a view to promoting future collaborations in the field of scientific research and training of young people. The fruitful exchange of experiences on such complex and strategically important topics for the effectiveness of regional healthcare systems and the quality of care is always a precious opportunity for growth. The increase in scientific and professional skills as well as the evolution of technological and organizational solutions can only benefit from the dialogue between individual experiences and individual initiatives.
Padua and Siena – concludes Giuseppe Dal Ben, general director of AOU of Padua – want to achieve the highest possible standard in the field of transplant surgical techniques and organ preservation techniques; increase the ability to attract resources and participate in networks or partnerships and research groups at a national and international level; promote research, development and innovation activities, also producing scientific articles and publications”.
For the Aou Senese, in addition to the health director Maria De Marco, Elena Bargagli, Director of Respiratory System Diseases and Head of the Regional Lung Transplant Programme, Luca Luzzi, Head of the Lung Transplant Centre, Sonia Bernazzali, Medical Director of Cardiac Surgery, Massimo Maccherini, Head of the Heart Transplant Center and VAD, Serafina Valente, Director of the Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Department and Head of the Regional Heart Transplant Programme, and Federico Franchi, Director of Anesthesia and Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Resuscitation.
For the AOU Padova, in addition to the medical director Michele Tessarin and the administrative director Fabio Perina, Federico Rea, Director of Thoracic Surgery, Director of DIDAS Surgery, Demetrio Pittarello, Director of Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care and Hospital Transplant Coordinator, Marco Schiavon, Medical Director of Surgery participated Thoracic, Elisabetta Balestro, Medical Director of Pneumology, Gino Gerosa, Director of Cardiac Surgery, Vincenzo Tarzia and Nicola Pradegan, Medical Directors of Cardiac Surgery.
The professionals of the two companies then discussed each other in three sessions, one dedicated to heart transplantation, one to lung and heart transplantation, and one to lung transplantation, and they agreed to meet in Padua for 2025.
VIDEO – Heart and lung transplants: Aou Senese and AOU Padova compared
