Out of Body Experience: Rejuvenating Organs Using Ex Vivo Perfusion
Photo: Cardiothoracic surgeons Dr. Jacob Klapper and Dr. Nnamdi Nwaejike perform a double lung transplant. Shawn Rocco/Duke Health
Each day, tens of thousands of patients on waiting lists across the United States await a simple phone call: one that says a match has been found and an organ is available for transplant. Despite a growing demand for donors, organ shortages continue to hinder many patients’ chances in receiving their potentially life-saving call.
Duke Surgery Faculty Members Elected into American Association for Thoracic Surgery
Congratulations to Matthew Hartwig, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery, and Betty C. Tong, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, for their election into the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS). Requirements for AATS membership are rigorous, including sponsorship, certification, and evidence of clinical performance and professional stature.
Duke Researchers Find Improved Outcomes with Two Novel Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Researchers on the Duke Heart Failure team recently found that a new left ventricular assist device (LVAD) design was associated with improved 6-month outcomes in patients with advanced heart failure. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, two clinical trials indicated a lower incidence of pump thrombosis and pump replacement in patients who received new centrifugal-flow LVADs compared with patients who received an axial-flow LVAD, which is currently FDA approved.
Duke Surgery Advanced Practice Providers Recognized by PDC
Congratulations to the following Advanced Practice Providers on your most recent accomplishments!
Dr. Moritz C. Wyler von Ballmoos Elected Fellow of the American College of Cardiology
Moritz C. Wyler von Ballmoos, MD, PhD, has been elected a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC), in recognition of his professional achievement and commitment to quality in cardiovascular care. Dr. Wyler von Ballmoos's Fellow designation was officially recognized during the Convocation Ceremony on Sunday, March 19, 2017, which was held in conjunction with the ACC's 66th Annual Scientific Session in Washington.
Duke Health Surgical Teams Perform Five Heart, Lung Transplants in 24 Hours
Photo: Mani Daneshmand, MD, performs a double lung transplant in November 2015
Duke Health’s heart and lung transplant programs have a long history of performing complicated transplants with outstanding success. That reputation was put to a challenging test on December 1, when Duke surgeons and their teams at Duke University Hospital successfully performed three heart transplants and two double lung transplants within a 24-hour period.