CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A pediatric surgeon performed Driscoll Children's Hospital's 100th and 101st kidney transplants, hospital officials said.
Passing 100 was a milestone anticipated by hospital officials since the Renal Transplant Program's inception more than 10 years ago.
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Officials said that Izrel Saldivar, 14, was the 100th transplant patient, and Alejandro Gomez, 11, was the 101st transplant patient.
Dr. Stephen Almond, who performed the kidney transplants, said 100 is a landmark number for many reasons.
"First, we were not anticipating achieving this number for 17 years. The fact that we have done so in 10 is astounding," Almond said. "Second is the geography and diversity of South Texas. Our program covers a population of about 2 million, but it is spread over a land mass the size of South Carolina. This has required a lot of traveling for ourselves and our patients. Finally, it is not so much the number, but the quality of the care that each patient has received in getting to 100. We would not have gotten to 100 if our outcomes were not as good, or better, than other centers in Texas."
Officials said that the program was spearheaded by William Allen, MD, the first pediatric nephrologist at the hospital.
"The 100-transplant mark has been a goal of this program since its inception," said Samhar I. Al-Akash, MD, head of Nephrology and medical director at Driscoll Children's Kidney Center and Renal Transplantation. "This goal is not only seen as a sign of great achievement, but also a sign of great health and strength, maturity and the beginning of a new chapter."
"It's clearly evident (that) the success of our program is measured in moments and in receiving the opportunity for our patients to be able to spend more time with their loved ones, family and friends," said Gerardo Gomez, director of specialty clinics. "Driscoll Children’s Hospital stands by its mission of not just providing a child their health, but by giving them their life through a kidney transplant."
Officials said that Almond has been performing kidney transplants for more than 20 years. He was recruited by Driscoll Children's Hospital in 2003.
The hospital held an event in February at the Texas State Aquarium to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Driscoll's first kidney transplant, inviting former transplant recipients and their families, officials said.
"Technology has improved our surgical techniques in both donor and patient," Almond said. "Most living donor kidneys are removed laparoscopically through several small incisions. Some surgeons are now exploring removing kidneys through natural orifices, (such) as the mouth or vagina. Although most recipients still require a large incision to transplant the kidney, some surgeons have successfully performed the operation robotically."
Officials said that Al-Akash and Almond agree that teamwork is critical between the Kidney Transplant Program and the Driscoll Children's Kidney Center, where dialysis is performed.
"Dialysis is a treatment for renal failure patients awaiting transplantation. You need to have an excellent dialysis center that adequately prepares and selects patients for transplantation, and we have that at Driscoll Children's Hospital," Almond said. "Although the number and members of the team are dictated by United Network of Organ Sharing regulations, teamwork cannot be regulated. It comes with experience, communication, respect and trust."
"Our outcomes are among the best in the country, so we are not just about the numbers, but also about the quality of care that this program delivers to its patients on a consistent basis," Al-Akash said. "This is where we are today: We have come a long way, and this is graduation day, and we are ready to write the next chapter."
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