Introduction: Efficient organ recovery and transportation are critical for successful organ transplantation programs. The Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) has been working to optimize organ transportation, with air transportation being a crucial aspect. Despite improvements, challenges remain, including limitations in cold ischemia time, unavailability of flights, and equipment compatibility issues, leading to delays and non-utilization of organs.

Medical evacuations play a vital role in facilitating organ recovery, but they also bring their own set of challenges. This study evaluates the impact of medical evacuations on organ recovery rates and transportation efficiency in Saudi Arabia during 2022, aiming to provide valuable insights for enhancing organ transportation processes and ultimately saving more lives through organ transplantation.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we examined the organ recovery process and transportation challenges in Saudi Arabia during 2022. Medical evacuation data was collected for 118 cases, including the number of organs recovered, transportation flights, and dedicated organ recovery teams. The data was analyzed to assess the impact of medical evacuations on organ recovery rates and transportation efficiency.

Results: A total of 62 cases required medical evacuations, utilizing 87 flights to transport 113 dedicated organ recovery teams. A remarkable number of organs were recovered, including 28 hearts, 10 hearts-for-valves, 54 lungs, 5 pancreases, 20 livers, and 26 kidneys. The increased number of flights over evacuation requests highlights the adaptability and resourcefulness of the teams. Four donors were not utilized due to evacuation-related issues, leading to the non-utilization of 2 hearts, 2 lungs, 1 liver, and 2 kidneys. Furthermore, 1 lung and 1 heart were not utilized due to delays and equipment compatibility issues.

Conclusion: The organ recovery teams have exhibited unwavering commitment and notable achievements amidst the complex challenges associated with transportation. Air transportation serves as an indispensable component in the success of organ transplantation programs, facilitating a patient-centric approach to organ allocation. Notwithstanding the considerable advancements in organ transplantation, transportation persists as a crucial element that necessitates continuous improvement and innovation.

By addressing these challenges, the transportation of organs in Saudi Arabia can be enhanced, thereby ensuring that a larger number of patients gain access to life-saving organ transplantation procedures, ultimately ameliorating overall health outcomes. Future endeavors should concentrate on minimizing transportation delays, optimizing cold ischemia time, and guaranteeing the availability of appropriate flights and equipment for the efficient transportation of organs.