About Transplant

The Section of Transplant Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine draws upon a long, successful history as it offers the latest advancements in the transplant field.

The kidney transplant program dates to the 1960s at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, while the liver transplant program began in 1985 at both hospitals. In 1996, transplant surgeons performed the first adult living-unrelated donor liver transplant in the United States at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Overall, Washington University transplant surgeons have performed more than 1,100 adult and pediatric liver transplants and over 2,700 kidney transplants.

About 40 percent of kidney transplants performed at Barnes-Jewish Hospital – and over half performed at St. Louis Children’s Hospital – use living donors. Meanwhile, Washington University transplant surgeons have developed a live-donor kidney procedure that generally results in less pain and quicker recovery. Called a “mininephrectomy,” the surgical procedure involves the removal of the donor kidney through a three-inch incision in the back.

In the area of liver transplantation, the program offers living-related and living-unrelated donor transplantation, reduced-size liver transplantation, split liver transplantation and dual-organ (liver-kidney, heart-liver and liver-lung) transplantation.

Washington University transplant surgeons also are leaders in the international field of islet cell transplantation and have initiated a solid pancreas transplant program (patients are awaiting donor organs).

Not all patients referred for transplantation actually require organ transplantation. In many cases, surgical intervention may forestall or eliminate the need for a transplant. With their extensive surgical expertise, these surgeons are able to treat complicated problems – such as large liver tumors – that might otherwise cause patients to be listed as transplant candidates at other medical centers.

Along with their clinical expertise, Washington University surgeons are leaders in the field of transplantation research. Most recently, a research team was actively involved in the development of three-dimensional imaging techniques for guiding surgeons during liver tumor removal or ablation surgery. Another lab studied the mechanisms involved in hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation to determine why some transplant patients have a more accelerated course and significant early liver injury from hepatitis C.

In graduate medical education, transplant surgeons contribute to the training of fellows in a nationally recognized two-year program certified by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. The program prepares fellows for careers in liver and kidney transplantation, both adult and pediatric, particularly in an academic setting.

We encourage you to browse our web site to learn more about the patient care, research and teaching programs offered by Washington University transplant surgeons.