ORGANS – KIDNEY
OVERVIEW
KIDNEY
UAB performed our first-ever organ transplant , a kidney , in 1968 . In late 2017 , we completed our 10,000th kidney transplant , which is a milestone achieved by very few transplant centers . Today that figure exceeds 10,800 .
The UAB Kidney Transplant Program is one of the most active in the southeast , for both living-donor and deceased-donor procedures , and we are a national leader in kidney transplants for African- Americans . Average wait times for kidney transplantation at UAB are down across all blood types , as we have pioneered new ways to increase the number of donor kidneys available to our patients . As of mid-2020 , more than 114 kidney transplants have been performed at UAB Hospital and Children ’ s of Alabama hospital as part of the UAB Kidney Chain , which began in December 2013 with an altruistic donor at UAB and marks the longest kidney transplant chain in the world .
Our program is widely recognized for its contributions to the field , including major advances in immunosuppression protocols , research , technology , and surgical techniques . We have a streamlined transplant evaluation process and continue to expand the transplant team to help meet the demands of the roughly 1,100 candidates on our kidney waiting list . Our commitment to research is evidenced by participation in multiple research studies funded by the National Institutes of Health as well as private industry .
HIGHLIGHTS
• The CTI has expanded organ access for patients through our Hepatitis C-positive > Hep C-negative program , which allows us to safely transplant organs from infected donors then cure the hepatitis C in the recipient with antiviral therapy . The CTI developed relevant protocols for all solid organs , applying them first with our kidney / pancreas and liver programs . This initiative has allowed more organs to be transplanted and is reducing wait times .
• To help patients with delayed kidney graft function , the CTI in 2020 launched a new collaboration with DaVita Dialysis that allows patients to be discharged earlier following transplant and undergo outpatient dialysis sessions , as needed . The program has had a positive impact on patient experience and satisfaction .
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , we converted most follow-up visits to phone or video telehealth sessions , and telehealth now accounts for about two-thirds of all transplant-related appointments . This has allowed us to temporarily suspend in-person visits at our remote satellite clinics . When Alabama fully reopens , we plan to resume inperson remote clinic appointments in Mobile and Huntsville , Ala ., and we also have plans to begin seeing patients in Montgomery , Ala .
• Our Incompatible Donor Program focuses on overcoming the barriers of crossing blood or tissue groups . UAB is a leader in this desensitization technique , and it can provide a much-needed option for patients with rare blood types in particular .
• Our Kidney Paired Donation Program helps match transplant candidates with kidneys . By working with a database of our patients and living kidney donors , we often are able to locate compatible matches and maximize the use of living-donor kidneys . Paired kidney donations now account for more than 30 % of the living-donor kidney transplants at UAB , and they serve as yet another potentially lifesaving option for our patients .
18 UAB CTI Report