KIDNEY
ORGANS – KIDNEY
I have a new journey to fulfill and pay forward the tremendous blessing I received from my altruistic living donor . UAB gave me back my life and gave it new meaning .
Kimberly Gilmore – Kidney transplant , May 13 , 2021
I ’ ve had the pleasure of working with the fine people at UAB Transplant for several years . I cannot think of a better endorsement of my co-workers than allowing them to operate on me and my family .
Daniel Tucker – Living kidney donor , September 3 , 2020
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 number exceeds 11,050 .
The UAB Kidney Transplant Program is the most active of the 10 kidney transplant centers in the southeast , for both living-donor and deceaseddonor 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 .
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 needs of patients referred to us and candidates on our kidney transplant 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 .
The UAB Comprehensive Transplant Institute ( CTI ) continues to expand 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 graft function , the CTI maintains a collaboration with the Acute Dialysis Unit at UAB Hospital that allows kidney transplant recipients to be discharged earlier following transplant and undergo outpatient dialysis as needed . The program has had a positive impact on patient experience and satisfaction .
The CTI ’ s 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 who present a high immunologic risk . In addition , our Kidney Paired Donation Program helps match transplant candidates with kidneys by working with a database of our patients and living kidney donors . Paired kidney donations now account for a substantial percentage of the living-donor kidney transplants at UAB , and they serve as yet another potentially lifesaving option for our patients .
12 UAB CTI Report