The Impact of 1,000 Renal Transplants at One Center

Abstract

A large, comprehensive renal transplant program has a major impact not only on patient care, but also on the medical center itself and the larger community. The program at this center has advanced from 15 transplants in 1964 to 141 transplants in 1976. Fifty-nine per cent of patients transplanted have functioning kidneys at this time, including 76 children. Rehabilitation was equal to prerenal disease level in 91% of 169 recipients who lived five years with a functioning graft. Basic research in such diverse areas as renal preservation and immunology, as well as clinical research in optimum immunosuppressive therapy, resulted in significant contributions. Refinement of the mixed lymphocyte culture improved living-related graft survival at two years: 100% for HLA-identical and 91% for non-HLA-identical grafts, compared to 66% reported by the Transplant Registry for the combined group. Modification of immunosuppression improved patient survival at two years: 100% and 86% for recipients of living-related and cadaver grafts, respectively, compared to 83% and 65% reported by the Transplant Registry. The complexity of care of the patient with end-stage renal failure has required active interaction between transplant surgeons and almost every major specialty. The vast clinical material has been a great asset for training transplant surgeons, nephrologists, fellows and residents of multiple specialties, and medical students. The medical center's relationship with communities within a 250 mile radius has been strengthened, as reflected in patient referrals and the development of a multi-community-supported organ procurement system, which has allowed us to perform over 100 cadaver transplants per year for the past three years. Thus the performance of 1,000 renal transplants at this center has resulted not only in rehabilitation of many renal failure patients, but also in expanded and improved research and teaching capabilities, bringing support from multiple medical disciplines and the general community.