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SPECIAL FEATURE At UH, 14 physicians are part of the transplant team. Shown here are two of them: nephrologist Donald Hricik, MD, who co-manages the kidney transplant program, and surgeon Edmund Sanchez, MD, who co-manages UH's liver transplant and pancreas transplant programs. have untreatable organ damage from conditions such as Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency, bronchiectasis, COPD or emphysema, cystic fibrosis, primary pulmonary hypertension, occupational lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, or a congenital abnormality. In the case of liver transplant candidates, the organ may be irreparably damaged by viral hepa- titis, cirrhosis, polycystic liver disease, primary liver cancer, Budd-Chiari syndrome or metabolic diseases such as hemochromatosis, Wilson's Disease, Primary Oxalosis, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency or glycogen storage disease. Pancreatic transplants are performed to treat insulin dependent diabetes. "Because of the many problems people can have with end-stage organ diseases, it is vital that transplant units be in major hospitals, like UHCMC, where every specialty is available," says Dr. Schulak. Early referral may also have a bear- ing on transplant success. Morrison advises that patients with end-stage disease who are likely to eventually need transplants may benefit from a consultation with a UH transplant specialist before their condit ion has deteriorated. "There is a lot to deal with when a patient is considering a transplant," says Morrison. "If a patient gets a diagnosis of a fatty liver but waits until they are having liver failure symptoms to begin the process, they are in the position of having to make critical decisions when they are very sick. Also, if patients are very sick when they first come to us, it makes it 14 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton MD NEWS n MDNEWS.COM n MARCH-APRIL 2012 harder to keep them stable until they can be transplanted." Working with a patient's primary physician, UH transplant specialists can help determine not only whether a patient is likely to be a good candidate, but can also help patients and families in deciding when the time is right for surgery and then prepare for it. Multidisciplinary Team Approach UH's comprehens ive, mul t i - discipl ina r y approach to organ transplantation consistently results in survival rates that are at or above national averages. "It truly does take a village," says Morrison. "This is not a procedure that is as simple as an appendectomy. There is lifetime follow-up required and a PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS