Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital succeeded in living donor kidney transplantation for the first time in northwest Incheon

Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital has recently succeeded in living donor kidney transplantation. The surgery was performed for the first time in northwest Incheon on 28 Aug and Professor Park, Je-Hoon of the Transplant Center was an operating surgeon. Recipient was a mother with renal failure and kidney donor was her daughter. However, the challenge called “rejection reaction” was awaiting before the transplant surgery.

Professor Moon, sungjin at nephrology internal medicine of International St. Mary’s Hospital says “rejection” can happen because the kidney of other person gets into your body.” Particularly, the recipient of the surgery last month shows strong positive responses in the tests of PRA(Panel Reactive Antibody) and lymphocyte cross reaction, and therefore there could be the rejection after the operation.”

In order to minimize the reactions, medical staffs removed antibodies, which can cause the rejections, inside of the patient’s body through preoperative treatment (plasma exchange therapy). After the treatment, transplant surgery was performed and it was successful. The operating surgeon, Professor Park, Jaehoon, said, “In the past, when the rejection was expected, transplant surgery was not suitable. On the other hand, the surgery is possible through the preoperative treatment.” and “Luckily, there was no reaction with mother and sister’s strong will and the efforts of medical staffs. They could leave the hospital in good shape in the end.” 

Kidney transplantation is to attach other person’s kidney inside of pelvis to replace the improperly functioning kidney, and patient does not need to take hemodialysis regularly, which improves the quality of life. In addition, it is a treatment method with a concept of complete recovery because in case of women they can get pregnant after the kidney transplantation and survival rate is more than twice higher. Accordingly, patients suffering from nephropathy must have kidney transplantation if the situation allows.

However, in order for kidney to be transplanted, donor is needed. There are two types of donors, a living donor (family and relatives) and brain-dead donor. In the event that there is a living donor, transplant surgery can be immediately performed while patients have to wait for the brain-dead donor after registering at the Korean Network. Currently, approximately 17,000 are on a transplant list for kidney and the average waiting period is around 4.5 years.

Meanwhile, since opening International St, Mary’s Hospital has been performing transplant surgery of brain-dead donors as the only medical institution for organ transplants in northwest Incheon. Furthermore, for the sake of successful transplant surgery for the first time in northwest Incheon, it is expected that a phenomenon of medical services concentration for organ transplants at the big hospitals in Seoul will be reduced.

Professor Park, Je-Hoon,
Chief of the Transplant Center at Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital

Expertise

Transplant surgery ( liver, pancreas , kidney , etc.) , trauma surgery, abdominal aortic aneurysm , carotid stenosis, peripheral arterial disease , varicose veins , congenital vascular malformation , lymphatic edema , vascular surgery , diabetic foot , Burger 's disease , vascular interventions

Education & Training

Chief of Transplant Center, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital
Appointed Doctor, KODA(Korea Organ Donation Agency)

Former Chief of Transplant Center, Inje University Il-san Baek Hospital

Kyounghee University, School of Medicine, Ph.D.

Sungkyunwan University, School of Medicine, Master’s Degree