Friday, September 24, 2010

First Intestine Transplant Performed In Michigan

DETROIT – The first intestine (bowel) transplant in Michigan was performed on a 50-year-old patient from Port Austin by physicians at Henry Ford Hospital.

The 11-hour surgery was performed on August 21 and 22. The composite multivisceral transplant procedure included transplant of the patient’s small bowel, stomach and pancreas.

Only a few centers in the United States offer intestine transplants and Henry Ford is the only one in Michigan with a program.

The patient, Brent Patterson, who suffered from short bowel syndrome as well as insulin-dependent diabetes, had been waiting for a transplant since April.

Patterson previously had six bowel procedures in a year to treat his intestines, damaged from Crohn’s disease and poor blood supply, and was no longer able to absorb the nutrients his body needed.

“I got so tired, my immune system was low and I would have to eat nonstop just to get enough nutrients,” says Patterson.

To read the full press release, visit the Henry Ford Hospital website.

To watch a video interview with transplant recipient Brent Patterson, visit ClickOnDetroit.com.

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