Transplant surgeons at USF Health and Tampa General Hospital (TGH) have successfully performed the world's first recorded bloodless heart-hepatic transplant. The groundbreaking procedure was led by Kiran Dhanireddy, MD, Vice President and Head of the TGH Transplant Institute and Associate Professor of Surgery at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, Gundars Katlaps, MD, and Associate Professor of Surgery at Morsani College of Medicine.
Finding new ways to tackle complex medical issues makes the Academic Medical Center such a valuable resource for patients, says MHCM, MHCM, MHCM, MHCM and MHCM, dean of Morsani Medical College.
“Our physicians have the expertise to provide complex care to patients who have no other options,” Dr. Lockwood said. “This kind of innovative problem-solving and interdisciplinary care is why patients at Academic Medical Centers have been shown to provide better health outcomes. We are extremely proud of our physicians for their leadership in this field.” Dr. Lockwood is also executive vice president and chief academic officer for General Tampa.
“As a true academic health system, our implant team has access to cutting-edge technology, innovative technologies and the latest research available,” explained John Coolis, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. “The difference in academics combined with General Tampa's world-class team members and providers positions our transplant lab in volume as the national leader and number one transplant center. That's why patients come to us to find possibilities in seemingly impossible circumstances.”
Patients diagnosed with both coronary artery and fatty liver disease had waited more than 18 months for transplant surgery, which had a condition associated with the metabolic syndrome and which had to be performed without blood products.
“The success of this first-time procedure is a true testament to the power of academic medicine. This has allowed us to build a team with unparalleled clinical expertise. “Unfortunately, too many patients do not have access to these resources in their local communities. They often have to travel quite a bit and face delays in care. The TGH Transplant Institute focuses on providing equitable care to patients from the Tampa Bay area, Florida and even other parts of the country.”
Although the first bloodless, single organ transplant was performed in 1986, the discipline of bloodless transplant surgery is still not common in most health systems. The field is constantly evolving, with the first recorded bloodless heart-kidney transplant taking place earlier this year. As the amount of bloodless transplant surgery increased, overall success and survival continued.
In addition to expanding access to transplant care for patients who cannot administer blood products due to medical contraindications or religious beliefs, the study encouraged patients' blood management programs to advocate for approaches that encourage patients' blood management programs, optimize their use of blood using their own blood, encouraged patients' blood management programs, encouraged patients' blood management programs, and minimized medical possibilities.
“The patients we see are facing several obstacles throughout our journey of care, including delays in organ distribution processes and inequality, and lack of access to the specialized expertise they live in. “Our team is extremely proud to have made history with this important procedure, as well as providing life-saving care that patients have not been able to receive other parts of the world.”
