Surgeons at Piedmont Atlanta have performed a rare combined heart-liver transplant, the first adult procedure of its kind in Georgia in a decade and only the second ever in the state.
Only about 50 have ever been performed in the Southeast, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.
The complex surgery required teams from the Piedmont Transplant Institute and Piedmont Heart Institute to work together, according to an Aug. 25 news release from the health system. Jonathan Hundley, MD, surgical director of Piedmont’s liver transplant program, said joint transplants are critical for patients with both heart and liver failure because each organ’s condition can determine surgical success.
Standalone transplants are also rising at Piedmont: Liver procedures increased 33% from fiscal 2023 to 2024, while heart transplants surged 500% the previous year.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.