UNMC’s Transplant Program Leads Nation

By Michael O’Connor, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

May 15–The Nebraska Medical Center’s small bowel transplant program was the busiest in the country last year.

The hospital’s 36 transplants were the most among the 10 centers nationally that perform them, said Andrea McMaster, a medical center spokeswoman.

The next highest were the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which performed 33, and Jackson (Fla.) Memorial Hospital, which performed 20.

It’s the first time the medical center in Omaha has had the most, McMaster said.

The medical center draws patients for small bowel transplants from across the United States and from such countries as Israel and Australia.

The hospital has hired more doctors and nurses in the past 10 years to handle the increase in transplants, said Dr. Jean Botha, one of the hospital’s transplant surgeons.

Having a high number of transplants enhances the medical center’s reputation, Botha said.

Doctors who make referrals, patients and their families consider the number of transplants when selecting a hospital, he said.

“It’s important for them to know this isn’t something we do once or twice per year,” he said.

Most of the patients are children, and many are under age 2, he said.

Of the 36 transplants last year, 29 involved children and the rest were performed on adults.

Botha said the young patients often are born with intestinal problems that require them to be fed intravenously.

–Contact the writer: 444-1122, michael.oconnor@owh.com

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