|
Kidney Transplant Center
The Kidney Transplant
Center at Gulf Coast Medical Center serves ESRD (end-stage
renal disease) patients desiring kidney transplantation as a
treatment option. We have performed more than 638 transplants since
the inception of the program in 1990.
Since 2002 we have had the
shortest wait time for a deceased donor kidney transplant
in the United states. We have a very high inpatient
nurse-to-patient ratio and our physician and clinical transplant
coordinator staff have decades of experience treating kidney
transplant patients. Our patients are referred on the West Coast
of Florida from Bradenton to the Keys, and East through the
center of the state to Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches. We
will consider referrals for patients who are currently on other
waiting lists in the United States, Canada, and other foreign
countries.
Our on year and five year
graft survival rates are 100% and 84%, respectively; compared to
89% and 75%, nationally. Our one-year and five-year patient
survival rates are 100% and 85%, respectively. Nationally, these
percentages are 96% and 85%, respectively. Interestingly, though
our success rates easily match the national averages our center
transplants a much higher percentage of the older ESRD
population than other centers across the country i.e. 31% of our
transplanted patients are 61 or older and nearly 8% are 71 or
older. Nationally, the percentage of kidney transplant patients
61 and older is less than 8%.
Our Dialysis Unit provides
conventional hemodialysis treatment for inpatients in acute and
chronic renal failure.
Frequently
Asked Questions
How can I
be considered as a candidate for transplantation?
Patients
interested in transplantation as a treatment option may ask
their nephrologist to refer them to the Transplant Center for
evaluation. Once the referral is received, the Transplant Center
staff will request medical records before an appointment is
scheduled. When an appointment is set, the patient will be sent
an educational packet and will be called by the coordinator to
answer any initial questions.
How do you
decide if I'm a candidate?
An educational
session will be the initial appointment, patients and their
families will be shown videos and have an opportunity to ask
questions about all phases of transplantation. Following this,
an appointment will be scheduled with the transplant nephrologist who will examine the patient and review their
medical history. After the nephrologist reviews the patient's
physical exam and medical records an individual evaluation plan
to suit each patient's medical status will be "tailor-made".
Several consultations and diagnostic tests are a part of every
evaluation. These include but are not limited to: evaluation by
the transplant surgeon and urologist; psychosocial evaluation,
laboratory tests, chest x-ray, EKG, dental screening and cardiac
testing for diabetics and patients over age 40.
How long do
patients wait for a transplant?
Patients who
complete the evaluation process and choose to pursue
transplantation as a treatment option can be transplanted most
quickly if they have a suitable live donor. These donors may be
relatives or close friends and statistics show that transplants
from these living donors perform better than those from
cadaveric donors. For those who absolutely do not have a
potential live donor the patients are placed on the national
computer waiting list. When a suitable kidney becomes available,
the transplant is performed at Gulf Coast Medical Center. The
transplant team will also follow patients through the transplant
hospitalization and provide intensive outpatient follow-up after
the transplant. All through the process, patient and their
families are able to reach the transplant team 24 hours a day
for answers to any questions or concerns.
For further information please call
239-343-0442 or 1-800-874-7142
United Network for Organ Sharing
Every
US transplant program is a member of the United Network for
Organ Sharing (UNOS), a private, non-profit organization based
in Richmond, Va. UNOS maintains the national patient waiting
list for all solid organ transplants, then matches donated
organs with patients, collects and analyzes scientific data
nationwide. Educate yourself about the transplant process by
visiting the UNOS web site.
Donate Life!
Did you know
there are approximately 63 transplant recipients every day?
However, another 16 die due to the lack of available organs. By
signing a donor card or driver's license, you can say "yes" to
organ and tissue donation and save a life.
Discover more and
print out your donor card!
|
