The first lung transplant (performed in 1989) and the first double lung transplant (performed in 2022) are two milestones that marked the beginning of a new era in Mexican medicine, demonstrating that our country had the technical and scientific capacity to perform highly complex procedures.
These medical milestones are now joined by the first successful double lung transplant recorded in the western region of Mexico, which was performed on November 19, 2024 at the Puerta de Hierro Andares Hospital. This operation marked a before and after in the medical history of Jalisco.
This achievement represented hope for patients with severe lung diseases, while highlighting the importance of promoting the culture of organ donation in Mexico.
The general director of the hospital group, Omar Silerio Martínez, highlighted that more than 19 thousand people in Mexico are waiting for an organ to be transplanted and it is urgent to raise awareness in society about the importance of donation.
Ulises Calva Bravo, 22, was the patient who benefited. Due to a lung condition aggravated by COVID-19, his health condition led him to be part of the transplant program in September 2024.
With the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team, the transplant was performed at the hospital’s Minimally Invasive Hybrid Center, under the direction of Dr. Luis Natera and in collaboration with the Minimally Invasive Surgery Institute (ICMI), led by Dr. Benigno Ferreira.
At a press conference, Natera highlighted the complexity of the procedure, describing it as one of the greatest medical challenges. “The lung, due to its size and direct contact with the environment, is highly susceptible to rejection and lung infections, which makes it an extremely delicate transplant,” he explained. In addition, the doctor called for promoting the culture of organ donation so that programs like this are sustainable.
For his part, Benigno Ferreira, a cardiothoracic surgeon, said that this transplant is a crucial advance that opens the possibility of benefiting more patients in the future.
Mr. Omar Silerio Martínez, general director of the hospital group, emphasized the need to raise awareness among the population about the importance of organ donation. According to official figures, more than 19 thousand people in Mexico are waiting for a transplant, a figure that highlights the urgency of strengthening this culture.
Ulises, in the process of rehabilitation, thanked the medical team and the donor family: “I am alive thanks to this generous act. Today I understand that one person can save others.”
This medical milestone positions the Puerta de Hierro Andares Hospital and Jalisco as benchmarks in highly specialized transplants, reaffirming their commitment to medical innovation and humanitarian service. It also encourages a call to society to promote organ donation as an act of solidarity that saves lives.
Source: expansion
