Domenico Caliendo case: surgeons' differing versions before the investigating judge

Naples – The investigation by the Naples Public Prosecutor's Office and the Carabinieri of the NAS (National Anti-Corruption Unit) is entering a crucial phase regarding the delicate case of little Domenico Caliendo , who died following a heart transplant performed at the Monaldi Hospital on December 23, 2025.

During preliminary hearings before investigating judge Mariano Sorrentino, the team's two cardiac surgeons, Emma Bergonzoni and Guido Oppido, provided reconstructions that revealed some logistical and procedural discrepancies.

The two professionals are under investigation for alleged cooperation in manslaughter and forgery, the latter charge being contested in relation to the manner in which the medical records were compiled.

The issue of timing and technical findings

The core of the investigators' investigations focuses on the timing of the surgical procedures. According to the prosecution's hypothesis, the removal of the native organ was initiated before a direct assessment of the condition of the heart from Bolzano. This margin of just a few minutes, according to initial technical findings, could have made the difference in assessing the organ's suitability, which was later found to be compromised by the low temperatures during transport.

New documentary evidence acquired in recent weeks appears to be supporting the investigation. Among these is a video filmed by a healthcare worker present in the operating room, which aims to clarify the exact timeline between the opening of the thermal container and the start of the cardioectomy.

Chats and defensive lines

Another formal chapter in the investigation concerns the exchange of chat messages between the health workers in the days following the event. The communication flows are now being examined by the investigating judge to determine whether there was an attempt to standardize the versions to be recorded ex post. The documents reveal the concerns and fears expressed via message by Dr. Bergonzoni, defended by Professor Vincenzo Maiello.

For his part, Dr. Oppido—assisted by lawyers Sorge and Manes—reaffirmed his defense before the judge, maintaining that he began the surgical procedure only after receiving formal approval from the colleague who had performed the organ harvesting in Bolzano. The judicial authorities are continuing to gather testimony on this matter to determine whether it aligns with the facts.