Uterus Transplantation from Deceased Donors: First Italian Experience.

Background

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is currently the only available treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility. Deceased donors have recently emerged as a valid alternative to living donors for uterus transplantation, with similar results.

Methods

We report the first experience in Italy of uterus transplantation from deceased donors. Three uterus transplantations from deceased donors were performed at the Organ Transplant Unit of the University Hospital of Catania, Italy, between August 2020 and January 2022.

Results

Two patients underwent UTx due to Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, while one patient had a previous hysterectomy due to benign disease. The donors' ages were between 25 and 43 years and the mean cold ischemia time was 18.3 h. The mean age of the recipients was 31.6 years, and the mean recipient surgery duration was 5.3 h, with a mean blood loss of 766.66 mL. Two recipients developed a post-transplant hematoma, which was treated conservatively. No uterus recipient needed a re-operation during the first 30 days after transplantation. No histological signs of acute rejection were detected at the cervical biopsies performed at 1, 3, and 6 months after transplantation. First menstruation occurred in all recipients after 39 ± 12 days after transplantation. One live birth was reported 15 months after UTx. One graft was lost three months after UTx due to graft thrombosis.

Conclusions

Uterus transplantation from deceased donors is emerging as a valid alternative to living donors in order to increase the donor pool.