D EFIN IN G M O M EN TS - Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Record number of patients
receive transplants in 2011
The Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Transplant
Center has the only comprehensive program in the region
offering heart, heart/lung, lung, double lung, kidney, liver,
pancreas islet and bone marrow transplants. In addition to
achieving outcomes that meet or exceed national averages,
the transplant center is known for quality and continuity
of care. The transplant programs at Barnes-Jewish also
consistently have post-rejection rates among the lowest
in the world.
In 2011, an increasing number of patients in several areas
received transplants:
Lung transplants
Availability of donor organs combined with wide resources
and exceptional talent made 2011 the busiest year in
the lung transplant program’s 23-year history.
The program, nationally known for advancing transplant
techniques and treatments, and for expert management of
both end-stage disease and post-transplant care, had averaged
about 55 transplants per year. In 2011, 75 lung transplants
were performed, placing the hospital fifth in the nation for
volume of lung transplants.
Heart transplants
In 2011, 36 heart transplants were performed, up from 29
in 2010. That places Barnes-Jewish at 10th in the nation for
volume of heart transplants. The hospital also saw an increase
in the number of ventricular assist devices (VADs) implanted
to support heart function in patients with weakened hearts
or who are awaiting transplant.
Liver transplants
With some of the best survival rates, Washington University
transplant specialists have performed more than 1,200
adult liver transplants since the program's inception in 1985.
In 2011 alone, 83 liver transplants were performed.
In 2011, Washington University transplant surgeons at
Barnes-Jewish accomplished another milestone when they
performed their first combined heart/liver transplant. Only
a few centers in the country have both the expertise and
resources to take on a complex procedure like a combined
organ transplant and the possible complications that could
follow it.
Kidney transplants
The Barnes-Jewish kidney transplant team averages more
than 200 kidney transplant surgeries annually, including
more than half of all kidney transplants in Missouri.
In 2011, the team performed 217 kidney transplants,
including 54 living-donor transplants.
The transplant programs at
Barnes-Jewish consistently
have post-rejection rates
among the lowest in the world.
Kidney/pancreas transplant
In 2011, transplant surgeons performed 20 pancreas
transplants, matched with a kidney transplant.
Barnes-Jewish has extensive experience in kidney/pancreas
transplant, with the first procedure performed at the
hospital in 1989.
Bone marrow transplant
The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish
Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine
has one of the 10 largest bone marrow and stem-cell
transplant programs in the world, averaging between
250-300 transplants per year. Survival rates are among
the highest anywhere. It is one of two centers in the
world developing a therapy for a rare form of leukemia
called acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Based on expertise in medicine, research and support
services, the bone marrow and stem-cell transplant team
also has developed a new way to get patients ready for
transplant called conditioning therapy. The national and
international medical community now recognizes this
approach as a very important way of preparing patients
for bone marrow and stem-cell transplant.
When patients need extra help
With the support of donor gifts, The Foundation for
Barnes-Jewish Hospital offers extra help to patients
undergoing transplant. For example:
• Ms. M, an out-of-state patient, was diagnosed with a
rare, progressive lung disease that required a transplant.
By the time she arrived at Barnes-Jewish, she had no
LEFT: Pictured with lung transplant patient Rory McCue
(center) are members of his transplant team including
(from left) Larry Sylvester, respiratory therapist;
Stacie Rupp, post-transplant coordinator; Rebecca Bathon,
social worker; Wanda Panus, pre-transplant coordinator;
Elbert Trulock, MD, medical director of lung transplant;
and Charles Dey, chaplain.
RIGHT: William Chapman, MD, professor and chief of
transplantation and general surgery at Washington
University, leads a transplant team performing
a liver resection. From left: Meranda Scherer, RN;
T. Mark Earle, MD; Enjae Jung, MD, surgical resident;
Chapman; and Ashley Kerkemeyer, RN.
way to pay for lodging because she had been too weak to
work. The Foundation provided Ms. M and her caregiver
a safe, comfortable place to stay near the hospital before
and after her transplant.
• Mr. C, a liver transplant recipient, needed post-transplant
medicine while awaiting the results of his Medicaid
application. The Foundation purchased two months of
the lifesaving medication until his insurance was approved.
• Mr. B, a lung transplant recipient who lived out of town,
needed to return to Barnes-Jewish for additional care
after transplant. He had no way to pay for transportation,
lodging and other expenses. The Foundation provided
Mr. B with the means to arrive at the hospital, a close
place to stay and the first 30 days of his new medication.
8 BARNES-JEWISH HOSPITAL • 2011 Annual Report
DEFINING MOMENTS
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