Timeline of UAB's Transplant Program

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A Well Timed High Five A Well Timed High Five
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UAB Transplant Services

Since 1968, UAB's transplant services have performed more than 10,000 organ transplants, and we are internationally known. People from all over the world come to UAB, recognized as one of America's top transplant centers. Our transplant services are well-known because of the skill of UAB surgeons and their years of experience.

<strong>First transplant of any kind in Alabama (kidney)</strong>With this historic milestone, the UAB transplant program launched an exciting journey of innovation and achievement spanning four decades. Recognized as one of America’s top transplant centers, UAB attracts patients from all over the world due to the skill, experience, and dedication of our internationally renowned transplant surgeons and physicians. Today, more than 10,000 organ transplants have been performed at UAB since that first groundbreaking event in 1968. Moreover, UAB has emerged as a national leader in kidney transplantation.

<strong>Advances in immunosuppressant therapy with antithymocyte globulin prepared at UAB</strong>Since its beginnings, the UAB transplant program has been a leader in pioneering medical advances that reduce the risk of organ rejection after transplantation. Groundbreaking discoveries such as these have led to more successful transplantations and better chances of survival for patients.

<strong>First heart transplant in the Southeast</strong>UAB’s heart and heart-lung transplantation program has evolved into one of the most distinguished in the nation. Since the program’s beginnings, over 800 heart and 30 heart-lung transplants have been performed at UAB. One of the program’s most innovative features is the Heart Transplant Intensive Care Unit (HTICU). In 2007, our HTICU received the Beacon Award for excellence in critical care nursing.

<strong>First liver transplant in the region</strong>With its highly skilled multi-disciplinary team, UAB’s liver transplantation program offers life-giving hope to adult and pediatric patients with end-stage liver disease. In the decades since the first liver transplant, UAB has remained on the cutting edge of advances in surgical techniques and medications that have led to improved outcomes for patients. More than 1,300 liver transplants have now been performed at UAB. The program’s excellence is further proven with outcome statistics that exceed national averages in liver transplantation.

<strong>First combined heart and double lung transplant in the Southeast</strong>UAB has performed more heart lung transplants than any center in the region.

<strong>First simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplant in the region</strong>Since this pioneering achievement, the simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplant operation has become an accepted treatment for certain patients with end-stage kidney disease caused by insulin-dependent diabetes. Today, more than 200 patients have received this innovative surgery at UAB. The life-changing benefit for patients after surgery is the reversal of their insulin-dependent diabetes and an easing of previous dietary restrictions.

<strong>First lung transplant in the region</strong>End-stage pulmonary disease was once a condition for which limited treatment – or hope – was available. But now, lung transplantation is considered accepted therapy for many patients with diseases that cause end-stage pulmonary disease. Currently, more than 400 patients have received a new lease on life through lung transplantation at UAB. Single lung transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Double lung transplantation is necessary for patients with primary pulmonary hypertension and septic lung diseases.

<strong>Implants first heart mechanical circulatory support device in the Southeast, emerging as one of the highest volume centers in the nation</strong>Each year, UAB implants a number of mechanical circulatory support devices as a short-term bridge for patients awaiting heart transplants. These revolutionary devices are used to take over the natural pumping function of a diseased heart that can no longer effectively circulate blood on its own.

<strong>Becomes one of the three highest volume transplant programs in the U.S.</strong>UAB’s transplant program is one of the busiest in the nation. Moreover, UAB has the largest comprehensive program in the Southeastern United States – performing 100 more transplants each year than any other program in the region. This long-standing record of experience and excellence offers patients the highest level of expertise and better chances of survival after surgery.

<strong>One of the first in the nation to implant Berlin Heart as a bridge to transplant</strong>With this groundbreaking achievement, UAB further established its standing among the most visionary and advanced transplant centers in the U.S. UAB surgeons petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to use the experimental heart-assist device – named for its place of invention – to extend the life of a young patient awaiting a heart transplant. The Berlin Heart was successfully implanted into a 17-month-old child, keeping her alive for six weeks until a heart became available for transplant.

<strong>Designated an islet cell resource center by the NIH, emerging as a national leader in auto islet cell transplantation</strong>UAB has played a leading role in developing and improving islet cell transplantation. Islet cell transplantation involves placing healthy, insulin-producing cells from an organ donor into a recipient. UAB has been instrumental in developing improvements that will help transplanted pancreatic islet cells survive longer and function better.

<strong>First paired kidney exchange in the South</strong>UAB has continued to advance a program of paired-kidney exchange involving living donors. Many patients have family and friends who are willing to donate a kidney to them but are unable to proceed with the surgery because their blood types do not match. This unique program allows incompatible donor and recipient pairs to be matched with other pairs to allow for a compatible transplant. As the first transplant center in the Southeast to pursue paired exchange UAB has developed this program to continue to offer the option of living donation to as many patients as possible.

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