Kidney Transplant Record

Dr. Robert Montgomery, chief transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, said that doctors at four hospitals in four states transplanted eight kidneys over three weeks in what he called the largest chain of donations in history. He believes such intricate, multi-state exchanges can drastically reduce the number of patients waiting for eligible donors. Multiple-kidney transplants occur when several people who need transplants have friends or relatives who are willing to donate kidneys but aren't compatible. A chain of surgeries is arranged in which each donor is matched with a transplant candidate who they don't know but is compatible with their kidney. The transplant chains also involve altruistic donors who are located through a database and give kidneys to anyone. Recipients and donors were equally delighted to be part of this unique procedure.

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