INDIANAPOLIS — A groundbreaking medical procedure in Indianapolis has turned a rejected organ into a lifesaving miracle, marking a major milestone for organ transplantation in the United States.
On January 29, 2026, the Indiana Donor Network became the first organ recovery organization in the nation to successfully use an in-house mechanical lung perfusion system to save a marginal organ that had been turned down by multiple transplant centers.
The journey began when an Indiana donor passed away at a hospital in the northeastern part of the state. While the donor was registered to give the gift of life, several regional transplant centers initially rejected the lungs due to “marginal performance”—meaning their function wasn’t strong enough to guarantee a successful transplant…