Annual report on heart transplantation in Colombia: 1985-2023

Introduction: Heart transplantation is a treatment option for advanced heart failure.The Colombian Heart Transplant Registry (RECOLTRACA) compiles relevant data on this procedure.In 2023, statistical data on the current state of heart transplantation was updated.Objectives: To describe heart transplantation activity in 2023 and the cumulative data since the first procedure was performed in Colombia in 1985.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted through interinstitutional collaboration among transplant centers in Colombia.Data was collected electronically via confidential communication channels of the Heart Failure, Heart Transplant, and Pulmonary Hypertension Chapter of the Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular [Colombian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery].Results: Ten institutions performed at least one heart transplant between 1985 and 2023.According to the SCC evaluation, a total of 1,618 heart transplant procedures had been recorded in Colombia up to 2023.In that year, 8 of these 10 institutions performed 97 heart transplant procedures, the majority in adult patients (87%), with a low percentage of heart retransplantation (5%) and combined heart transplants (2%).Conclusions: Heart transplantation has been performed in Colombia for nearly four decades.The sustained efforts of transplant institutions, interinstitutional collaboration, and governmental support were crucial in ensuring that this procedure remained accessible to a significant number of patients in 2023.