Volume 30, Issue 173, July 2026

Partial Heart Transplantation: A Narrative Review of a Novel Valve Replacement Strategy

Julia Witkowska^1♦, Katarzyna Bielak², Adam Brożyna³, Ksenia Jakubiak¹, Monika Krasoń¹, Mikołaj Kurczyński¹, Natalia Kursa¹, Agnieszka Mackiewicz⁴, Aleksandra Pietrucień⁴, Krystian Woźniak¹

¹Central Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, 92-213, ul. Pomorska 251, PL
²5 Military Clinical Hospital in Cracow, 30-901 Cracow, ul. Wrocławska 1-3, PL
³University Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, 90-153, ul. Kopcińskiego 22, PL
⁴Medical Centre of Pabianice, Pabianice, 95-200, ul. Jana Pawła II 68, PL

^♦Corresponding author
Julia Witkowska, Central Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, 92-213, ul. Pomorska 251, PL

ABSTRACT

Partial heart transplantation (PHT) is a new surgical option in pediatric cardiac reconstruction that could address major drawbacks of traditional valve replacement. Unlike mechanical or bioprosthetic valves and homografts, the living valve grafts used in PHT can grow with the child. This may help prevent patient– prosthesis mismatch and reduce the need for repeated surgeries as children grow. This review covers PHT from concept to clinical application. It discusses the limitations of current valve replacement methods, the technical success of PHT in preclinical studies, and early clinical outcomes. The review also examines recent advances in graft preservation, immunomodulation, 3D modeling, and tissue engineering that could expand the use of PHT. While PHT is still experimental and experience is limited, it shows promise as a growth-accommodating option for some pediatric patients. Background: Current methods for replacing heart valves have important drawbacks. Prosthetic valves and homografts cannot grow with the pediatric patient, leading to multiple surgeries. PHT is a new approach that uses living grafts with valves that can grow and adapt. Objective: This review examines why and how PHT is applied in practice, its benefits and challenges, and the future perspectives. Methods: Sources include experimental studies, clinical case reports, review articles, and meta-analyses on partial heart transplantation, transplantation immunology, graft preservation, and new tissue engineering methods.

Keywords: heart transplantation; partial heart transplantation; congenital heart disease; heart valve transplantation; valve replacement; graft preservation; transplant immunology

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e119ms3890

PDF

Published: 07 July 2026