In one year, FAB transports 275 organs for transplant

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has transported 275 organs for transplant in 365 days. This has been possible thanks to Decree no. 8783 signed by President of the Republic Michel Temer, which establishes that an aircraft should always be available in the Federal District to transport donated organs.

This measure, in force since 7 June 2016, also provides for the use of other Air Force aircrafts stationed around the country, depending on the location to be served. A total of 216 flights have been made in this period.

Before the decree was issued, the FAB could not maintain an aircraft exclusively for this purpose. Between January and June last year, only 5 organs were transported by military aircrafts. In the same period in 2017, this number rose to 86, which represents a 1,600% increase.

According to a report published by the FAB, most operations involved livers (130), hearts (68) and kidneys (44).

Time challenge

The organ transport process starts when the National Transplant Unit (CNT) is notified by some state unit that an organ or tissue is available for transplant.

The CNT then contacts commercial airlines to check their logistical availability. If there is an available compatible flight, a commercial airliner will deliver the organs or tissues to their destination. Otherwise, the CNT approaches the FAB, which will provide one or more aircrafts to collect and deliver the organ.

Organ transplant logistics are very complex. Each organ has a specific Cold Ischemia Time (CIT), i.e., the time it can survive without blood supply.

The heart is the organ with the lowest CIT; kidneys, on the other hand, can stay for up to 24 hours without blood supply. Organs need to be transported in a cold storage box that keeps the temperature between 2 and 8 °C. If the temperature drops below that, the organ can freeze, and thus become unfit for transplant. Mechanical impacts can also damage organs.

Thanks to the services provided by the FAB, the whole process has become easier and faster, as military aircrafts can land on shorter runaways and at smaller airports, thus providing enhanced mobility in smaller cities and towns.