henryford.com Trans 1-855-85-TRANSPLANT all for you PUBLISHED BY HENRY FORDnotes TRANSPLANT INSTITUTE SPRING 2018 100TH LIVING DONOR LIVER TRANSPLANT TAKES PLACE AT HENRY FORD HOSPITAL Susan Cowles, of the Saginaw area, received a section of liver from her cousin and goddaughter, Joyce Gendron, of Bryan, Ohio. Joyce became the Henry Ford Transplant Institute’s 100th living liver donor in a 9.5-hour transplant at Henry Ford Hospital. “She’s saved my life, is what she did,” a grateful Susan said from her hospital bed two days after surgery. “It does feel good, yes,” said Joyce, from her hospital bed across the hall from Susan’s, two days after donating part of her liver. Marwan Abouljoud, M.D., director of the Henry Ford Transplant Institute and a world-renowned liver surgeon, removed a portion of Joyce’s liver in a six-hour surgery that began at 8 a.m. “The delicate procedure of dividing the liver in half is very safe for Joyce Gendron and Susan Cowles both the donor and the recipient,” he said. Atsushi Yoshida, M.D., surgical director of Liver Transplant at Henry Ford Hospital added, “Both patients were carefully evaluated to make sure their health and anatomy are perfectly matched for a successful transplant.” continued on page 6 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF TRANSPLANTS This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Henry Ford 1,250 bone marrow stem cell transplants. Transplant Institute. Along the way, there have been many “firsts” “Fifty years ago, Henry Ford Hospital brought the in Michigan, including the first split-liver transplant from a lifesaving option of organ transplants to the Detroit and deceased donor, first adult-to-adult living-donor liver trans- southeast Michigan community,” says Marwan Abouljoud, M.D., plant, first modified multivisceral transplant, first lung-liver director of the Henry Ford Transplant Institute. “Today, I’m transplant, first heart-liver transplant, first robotic kidney proud of the pioneering efforts of our teams, as we collab- transplant and the first machine liver perfusion pump. orate with physicians across Michigan to offer adult and The Henry Ford Transplant Institute is recognized locally pediatric transplants, that improve and extend life through and nationally for making advancements in transplantation. innovative, compassionate, and personalized care.” Our transplant physicians have been on the forefront of The first organ transplant at Henry Ford Hospital took specialized end-stage organ failure care, offering new place on January 4, 1968 when a kidney transplant was therapies to extend life and position patients for transplant performed by pioneering surgeons Drs. Emerick Szilagyi, candidacy. Our surgeons have pioneered lifesaving devices Roger Smith, and Joseph Elliot. as bridges to transplant, as well as minimally invasive Since then, Henry Ford transplant teams have and robotic transplant surgeries that minimize side performed more than 6,150 solid organ transplants and effects and improve recovery. continued on page 2 PAGE 5 PAGE 7 PAGE 10 Pioneers in Robotic- Safety of Statin IPF: A Disease With Assisted Kidney Therapy After Liver No Cure, But A New Transplant Surgery Transplantation Treatment Option HENRY FORD HOSPITAL From The Editor CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF TRANSPLANTS Welcome to the continued from cover Spring 2018 issue of Following transplant, our infectious TransNotes, a newsletter ORGAN PROCUREMENT AND DONATION disease specialists and pharmacists produced by the All transplant professionals will are improving transplant outcomes Henry Ford Transplant tell you that the shortage of available Institute. Our purpose through advancements in immu- organs is their biggest challenge. for producing this nosuppression and anti-rejection One of Henry Ford Hospital’s most publication is to share therapies. significant contributions has been our research and Our transplant patients also are cultivating collaboration among advances in the field pioneers. Henry Ford’s Transplant institutions for transplant and organ of transplantation Living Community (TLC) is the first Marwan S. Abouljoud, procurement. with our colleagues. M.D., FACS program of its kind in the country to Early on, Henry Ford Hospital It was 50 years offer peer-to-peer patient advocacy established relationships with Harper ago that organ transplantation began at with a defined educational curriculum Hospital in Detroit and the University Henry Ford Hospital. In celebration, several before and after transplantation. Pub- of Michigan in Ann Arbor to formalize educational opportunities and events will be lished research has demonstrated that the Transplant Society of Michigan, held this year. I hope you mark your calendars the TLC program leads to improved later named Gift of Life – Michigan’s as the events are announced and join us. compliance and patient satisfaction. only federally designated organ and In this edition, you’ll find articles about tissue recovery program. two amazing patients. First, Joyce Gendron TRANSPLANT THROUGH COLLABORATION To expand the pool of available was the 100th living liver donor for her “Our first kidney transplant organs, Henry Ford has been an early godmother and cousin Susan Cowles. Since the in 1968 was made possible when adopter of organ donation after cardiac first living donor liver transplant in December surgeons from different specialties – death and among the first institutions 2000, we’ve witnessed hundreds of patients vascular, urology and general surgery to utilize the latest perfusion systems returning to their lives. – came together as a team,” remarks that increase the viability of organs Judith Popard, the second patient featured Dr. Abouljoud. “Collaboration by for transplant, such as ex-vivo lung in this edition, was diagnosed with idiopathic surgeons, physicians, and the larger pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that eventually perfusion (EVLP) and TransMedic medical and caregiver team is what’s required a lung transplant. By sharing her normothermic liver perfusion. always made transplant successful.” story, Judy’s hope is that all physicians will Additionally, Henry Ford always Even though Henry Ford Hospital become re-educated about IPF and understand has been a leader in expanding was among the early adopters of although it’s not curable, it is treatable. living donation. We are the largest organ transplants, transplantation as Treating IPF patients early, using ECMO, center in Michigan for adult-to-adult a field of medicine is still considered provides a better quality of life while waiting living donor liver transplants. For one of the younger specialties. The for a lung transplant than a ventilated patient. kidney donation, we’ve pioneered Next in this edition is a study on the safety Henry Ford Transplant Institute was minimally invasive and robotic of statin therapy after liver transplantation, officially established as a Center of kidney procurement, and participate which concluded that statin therapy did not Excellence in 2004 and today is one in creative paired kidney exchanges. cause significant elevations in liver enzymes of the most integrated, comprehensive Looking to the future, the Henry Ford and no difference in patient or graft survival, transplant programs in the country. Transplant Institute has established and there were less statin episodes of rejection. Under Dr. Abouljoud’s leadership, the Center for Living Organ Donation. For patients who are unable to tolerate the typical hospital silos have been Too often our living donors are the open procedures or are heavier, robotic surgery eliminated so that every specialty that forgotten heroes in the transplant for kidney transplant opens new opportunities touches transplant – from anesthesia at Henry Ford Hospital, as Dr. Yoshida explains. process. Our goal is to prepare them and infectious disease, to pharmacy, I hope you find these and the other for the experience of donating a kidney nursing, psychology, dietary and others, articles informative and thought-provoking or part of their liver, and support works together to create a unique, and perhaps valuable in your own research them throughout their physical and patient-focused care experience or practice. As always, referring physicians emotional recovery. throughout the transplant journey. should feel free to contact us at our toll-free We also cannot talk about transplant As a transplant institute, we’ve number, 1-855-85-TRANSPLANT, or to without recognizing our deceased expanded our resources and partnered contact me directly at (313) 916-2941, donor families, who deserve our for your patient or practice needs. with physicians throughout Michigan gratitude. Without their decision to Marwan S. Abouljoud, M.D., FACS to bring transplant outreach clinics give the gift of life, 50 years of Director, Henry Ford Transplant Institute to the communities of Kalamazoo, transplantation at Henry Ford Hospital Benson Ford Chair Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint and would not have been possible. E-mail: [email protected] Ypsilanti. 2 www.henryford.com/transplant 1-855-85-TRANSPLANT MEET OUR NEW PHYSICIANS... Jennifer Cowger, M.D., M.S. Medical Director of Mechanical The University of Michigan Master of Science in Clinical Circulatory Support Medical Center (Ann Arbor, MI) – Research Design and Statistical Fellowship in Cardiovascular Analysis Medical School Education: Medicine, Chief Fellow The Ohio State University College Board Certification: of Medicine and Public Health The University of Michigan American Board of Internal (Columbus, OH) Medical Center (Ann Arbor, MI) – Medicine – Internal