SurgOne has several transplant surgeons that run the PSL Transplant Program, located at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital. The program involves liver transplants, kidney transplants, and combined kidney/pancreas transplants. The team was instituted in 6 years ago in 2009 and has grown overtime to become the premier transplant program in Colorado and the surrounding areas. Its success is based on a comprehensive care plan for all transplant patients, pre and post operatively. This includes physicians, surgeons, nurses, social workers, and financial coordinators all specialized in the care of the transplant patient.
The transplant surgeon’s role is evaluation of disease processes, which will determine eligibility of a transplant candidate. This evaluation is done in conjunction with other physicians including gastroenterologists, nephrologists, and endocrinologists. Transplant surgeons are not only trained in the intricacies of the surgeries themselves, but have thorough knowledge of systemic immunology, which allows for successful care of the post-transplant patient.
Liver transplantationis potentially applicable to any acute or chronic condition resulting in irreversible liver dysfunction, provided that the recipient does not have other conditions that will preclude a successful transplant.
Most liver transplants are performed for chronic liver diseases that lead to irreversible scarring of the liver, or cirrhosis. The indication for kidney transplantation is end-stage renal disease regardless of the primary cause. Common diseases leading to ESRD include hypertension, infection, diabetes, and glomerulonephritis; genetic causes include polycystic kidney disease. Kidney/pancreas transplantation is performed for patients with ESRD secondary to Type 1 diabetes. The majority of renal transplant recipients are on some form of dialysis at the time of transplantation. In some cases, however, individuals with chronic renal failure, who have a living donor available, often elect to undergo transplantation before dialysis is needed. Kidney transplant surgery with live donors has become particularly successful with the advent of laparoscopic nephrectomy for kidney procurement. This has allowed for faster recovery of the donor patient, which consequently has increased the willingness and overall numbers of potential kidney donors. SurgOne transplant surgeons have maintained excellent outcomes through the PSL Transplant Program. Their multidisciplanary approach, skillful surgical technique, comprehensive care, and dedication have created a strong, successful program in the field of liver, kidney, and kidney/pancreas transplantation.
