Record number of kidney transplants recorded

STAFF at Beaumont Hospital performed a record number
of kidney transplants last year.

Recently released figures indicate that 192 kidney
transplants were carried out in 2011, an increase of 70 on the previous year.

Several reasons were cited for the increased number in
transplants, including a rise of activity in the living donor programme and in
transplants from deceased donors.

There were 27 living donor transplants last year and
158 from deceased donors.

Over the last 10 years, there has been a significant
reduction in the time between donor deaths and transplantation, from 20 to 14
hours, which has also greatly improved the outcome for patients.

Another factor has been the hospital’s adoption of
keyhole surgery techniques for living donors, which has helped to significantly
reduce their recovery times.

Beaumont Hospital made history in November 2010 when
it performed the procedure for the first time in Ireland on Kate Mooney from
Griffith Avenue who donated her kidney to her brother Cathal.

Fewer patients also suffer acute transplant rejection
post surgery with figures at 11 per cent for rejection compared to 25 per cent
20 years ago.

Beaumont’s director of Transplant, Urology and
Nephrology Directorate, Professor Peter Conlon, said the increase in
transplants in 2011 had helped to stabilise the waiting time for transplants at
33 months.

However, there are still some 500 people currently on
the transplant list.

“There is, therefore, an urgent need for additional
investment in transplantation if the full benefits of kidney transplantation
are to be offered to the Irish people,

? stated Professor Conlon.

“It will also be required if we are to prevent further
growth in the number of patients with end stage renal failure needing to go
onto dialysis.

“Although we have seen a significant increase in
living donor transplant activity, this does not come anywhere near meeting the
current demands.

?