The Call Could Come at Any Moment. Behind the Scenes of Mette-Marit's Wait for a Transplant
Princess Mette-Marit may receive lungs from a donor outside Norway. VG reports that this is possible thanks to Nordic transplant cooperation. The Royal Palace announced on Friday that the princess has been placed on the waiting list due to worsening pulmonary fibrosis.
Mette-Marit is struggling with a serious illness.
Fot. Liv Anette Luane/The Royal Court/tylko do użytku redakcyjnego
The cooperation includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Estonia. The Scandiatransplant organization allows organs to be shared between countries when there is no suitable recipient locally or nationally. Time is of the essence.
"At the same time as the patient is being prepared for surgery, a donor operation is being performed elsewhere in Scandinavia," said surgeon Per Martin Silverborn in an interview with VG. The doctor works on heart and lung transplants at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg. He has performed 200 lung transplants.
"At the same time as the patient is being prepared for surgery, a donor operation is being performed elsewhere in Scandinavia," said surgeon Per Martin Silverborn in an interview with VG. The doctor works on heart and lung transplants at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg. He has performed 200 lung transplants.
The Donor May Be Abroad. Compatibility Is Key
The process begins immediately after a donor is found. Doctors assess compatibility with the recipient in terms of blood type, gender, age, and body build. This is the first filter. For lungs, chest size, severity of the disease, and the rate at which the patient's condition is worsening may also be important.
The patient must be available around the clock. Silverborn told VG that people waiting for a lung transplant can be called to the hospital at very short notice. Then the logistics are set in motion. The National Hospital in Oslo (Rikshospitalet) is the only hospital in Norway that performs lung transplants, and since 1990 it has carried out 750 such procedures.
The patient must be available around the clock. Silverborn told VG that people waiting for a lung transplant can be called to the hospital at very short notice. Then the logistics are set in motion. The National Hospital in Oslo (Rikshospitalet) is the only hospital in Norway that performs lung transplants, and since 1990 it has carried out 750 such procedures.
Princess Mette-Marit revealed in 2018 that she suffers from pulmonary fibrosis.Photo: wikimedia.org/Photo: Jarle Vines/CC BY-SA 3.0
The List Is Shorter. The Operation Requires Coordination
In 2025, Norway received 20 kidneys, nine livers, three hearts, and four lungs from abroad. VG reports that all four lungs came from Sweden. This shows the importance of cross-border exchange. The princess’s doctor, chief physician Are Holm from Rikshospitalet, said at a press conference on June 5 that many organs used in Norway come from another Nordic country.
In Norway, 30 to 35 lung transplants are performed annually. Previously, there were 40 patients on the waiting list; now there are eight. Holm noted that in the past, 20 percent of those on the list died while waiting. According to VG, in the past six months, there have been no such cases because the list is short.
In Norway, 30 to 35 lung transplants are performed annually. Previously, there were 40 patients on the waiting list; now there are eight. Holm noted that in the past, 20 percent of those on the list died while waiting. According to VG, in the past six months, there have been no such cases because the list is short.
After a call from the transplant center, the patient must report to the hospital quickly. Medical advisor Marthe Gundersen from the National Association for Heart, Lung, and Stroke (LHL) told VG that the organ should reach the transplant within a maximum of six hours. Silverborn added that the first 24 hours after surgery are the most important from a surgical perspective.
How do you rate this article?