Robert Reifsneider
With donor organs in short supply, it’s a blessing to have transplant teams that can rally to implant the organs when they’re available – even when they are available all at once.
In late January, liver transplant teams completed five transplants in an epic 24 hours, performing four at HUP and one at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. One liver was split between a young woman and a baby.
“It took the coordinated efforts of many, many people to make these surgeries happen,” said Kim M. Olthoff, MD, chief of Transplant Surgery. “This would not have been done without the whole team coming together, and the incredible work of Dr. Abraham Shaked, the director of the Penn Transplant Institute, who orchestrated all five transplants.”
Nicholas Minton, BSN, RN, a liver transplant nurse who participated in two of the surgeries, estimated that easily 40 to 60 staff members were directly involved to procure the donor organs, prepare operating rooms, assign staff, disinfect equipment, deliver surgical tools, and get patients ready to go. That included transplant coordinators, surgeons and surgical technicians, anesthesiologists and anesthesia technicians, nurses, operating room coordinators, environmental services staff, and materials service partners, who keep the operating rooms stocked with supplies – among others.
Anesthesiologist Elizabeth Valentine, MD, participated in the four adult transplants.
“To do this many transplants in such a short time frame meant we had transplants running simultaneously through the night; since each patient has their own dedicated team, it takes a tremendous amount of coordination to time everything perfectly,” Valentine said. “The OR is always a team sport, and fortunately for us, we have an outstanding team that can rise to meet any challenge, even in the middle of the night.”
Robert Reifsneider of Pottstown was among the five fortunate patients that day and said he never felt like a number. He was deeply thankful for all the staff who helped him, including not only the doctors and nurses, but the environmental services staff who meticulously cleaned his room so he’d be safe from infections and the dining services team that helped him plan out meals.
“Everyone I came in contact with made me feel at home,” said Reifsneider, 49, who had been on the transplant list for two years. “The nurses were exceptional in the amount of time they spent with me reinforcing the importance of my medications, and the doctors spent precious time with me to ensure not only that I made it through the surgery but saw me afterwards to check on me and help me navigate this newfound life.”
Austin Williams, MS, chief administrative officer of the Penn Transplant Institute, shared gratitude for everyone involved.
“You transformed the lives of five patients’ lives in 24 hours and gave them more time with their loved ones,” he told the staff in an email. “Truly amazing work.”