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California Pacific Medical Center Sets Milestone With 1,000th Liver Transplant; Nearly 60% of Transplants Performed Due to Liver Damage Caused by Hepatitis B and C.


Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

California Pacific's Liver Disease Liver Disease Definition

Liver disease is a general term for any damage that reduces the functioning of the liver.
Description

The liver is a large, solid organ located in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen.
 Management & Transplant Team marked its 1,000th liver transplant liver transplant Hepatic transplant Transplant surgery A procedure that replaces a cancer conquered, metabolically defeated, or substance subjugated liver with one no longer required by its owner, many of whom donate same after an MVA Diseases requiring transplant  last week, thanks in part to the continuing generosity of organ donors. Since its inception in 1988, the Liver Transplant Program has performed an average of 50 to 100 liver transplants each year. "While the number of organs available limits our ability to transplant more patients, we are very pleased with this milestone and with the organ donors who have offered others a new chance at life," said Robert Osorio, M.D., surgical director of California Pacific's Liver Transplant Program.

Because of the growing impact of hepatitis C Hepatitis C Definition

Hepatitis C is a form of liver inflammation that causes primarily a long-lasting (chronic) disease. Acute (newly developed) hepatitis C is rarely observed as the early disease is generally quite mild.
 and its associated liver damage, physicians anticipate an increasing number of liver transplants needed in the years to come. Currently, more than 2,000 individuals in Northern California are awaiting a liver transplant. Unfortunately, with stagnant organ donation rates, only about 175 livers become available for transplant in this region each year, according to the California Transplant Donor Network Located in Oakland, California, the California Transplant Donor Network (CTDN) is a non-profit, federally designated organ procurement organization that under the adminitration of UNOS facilitates organ recovery and transplantation in the Northern California and Northern Nevada region. , the organ-procurement organization for Northern and Central California and Northern Nevada.

The recipient of California Pacific's 1,000th liver transplant, a San Francisco resident suffering from liver cancer Liver Cancer Definition

Liver cancer is a relatively rare form of cancer but has a high mortality rate. Liver cancers can be classified into two types.
 caused by hepatitis B Hepatitis B Definition

Hepatitis B is a potentially serious form of liver inflammation due to infection by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It occurs in both rapidly developing (acute) and long-lasting (chronic) forms, and is one of the most common chronic
, said, "I'm very thankful to the donor and physicians who saved my life and would encourage more people to participate in organ donation." He also advocates routine physicals because that is what helped alert doctors to the tumor in his liver.

The primary indication for liver transplantation at California Pacific is hepatitis C (45%), followed by alcoholic cirrhosis (15%) and hepatitis B (13%). The majority of patients undergoing transplantation range in age from 40 to 60 years. Patients receiving liver transplants at California Pacific fare extremely well, with a three-year graft survival rate graft survival rate Immunology The percentage of Pts with functioning grafts–eg, for 1, 2, or 5 yrs. See Graft rejection.  of 82% compared to the national average of 72%, according to data by the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN OPTN Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network
OPTN Operationalizing and Professionalizing the Network
OPTN Option
). Patient survival at three years following transplant is 85%, compared to the national average of 81%.

"Our outcomes highlight California Pacific's success and expertise in treating patients with end-stage liver disease," said Robert Gish, M.D., medical director of California Pacific's Liver Program. "With at least a similar if not growing volume of transplants expected in the years to come, we hope to continue maintaining the same excellent results."

About California Pacific Medical Center California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) is one of the largest private, not-for-profit, academic medical centers in Northern California. The Medical Center is a combination of three of San Francisco's oldest medical institutions: Pacific Presbyterian Hospital, Children's Hospital  

California Pacific Medical Center, a Sutter Health affiliate, is one of the largest private, not-for-profit, teaching medical centers in Northern California. We are a tertiary referral center providing access to leading edge medicine while delivering the best possible personalized care. We provide a wide variety of services, including acute, post-acute and outpatient hospital care; home care and hospices services; preventive and complementary care; and health education. Through our medical education program and our research institute, physicians at California Pacific Medical Center are able to bring health care innovation to the bedside.

For more information on organ donation, please contact Mary Wallace, public affairs manager at California Transplant Donor Network, 510/273-6740.
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Copyright 2002, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Business Wire
Date:Jun 27, 2002
Words:497
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