The University Hospital Performs 500th Liver Trans

The University Hospital Performs 500th Liver Transplant

Cincinnati--Transplant surgeons at The University Hospital performed the 500th liver transplant in the program's history. The patient, a 56 year-old woman, had been on the waiting list for 15 days. The Liver Transplant Program at The University Hospital is the Tristate's only adult liver transplant program. It began in 1986 under the direction of J. Wesley Alexander, M.D., and Israel Penn, M.D. It is currently the largest liver program in the state of Ohio, having performed 84 transplants in 2003 alone. Currently there are less than 25 patients listed for transplant at The University Hospital. The University Hospital Liver Transplant Program uses innovative techniques, including extended criteria donation (ECD) and steroid-free immunosuppressive drugs, to help give more patients a second chance at life. "ECD allows livers that are not good matches for extremely ill patients to be placed in healthier patients," says Steven M. Rudich, M.D., Ph.D., UC Multidisciplinary Liver Treatment Program and director of Liver Transplant Services at The University Hospital. "Liver transplant patients that take steroid-free immunosuppressive drugs are not subjected to the harmful effects of steroids, such as bone loss, weight gain, hypertension and diabetes." Besides being a leader in liver transplant volume in Ohio, the results of transplants performed by Dr. Rudich and his team are exemplary. One-year patient survivals exceed 90 percent following liver replacement. This compares favorably with the biggest and best liver transplant programs in the United States. "Our Liver Transplant Program is exceptional, and is well regarded among transplant professionals all around the country," says James Hurst M.D., executive director, The University Hospital. "But most importantly, the lives of many area residents have been saved by this remarkable team of transplant professionals. We are very proud to be able to offer this life-saving service to our community." The University Hospital is part of the Health Alliance, an integrated health care delivery system that also includes The Christ Hospital, The St. Luke Hospitals, The Jewish Hospital, The Fort Hamilton Hospital and the physicians of Alliance Primary Care. To view other Health Alliance news releases, go to www.health-alliance.com/pressroom.