In 2014, the Baylor Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute Lung Transplant Program welcomed a new team of nationally respected transplant specialists. Since the arrival of the new surgical team, under the leadership of Dr. David Mason, the program has seen a steady increase in the total number of lung transplants performed and improved outcomes in lung transplant recipients. In 2014, the team performed 37 lung transplants, compared to 29 in 2013, and patient outcomes* have risen from 89.7% to 91.9% in just one year.
For people living with lung diseases like cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema and other conditions, every breath is a struggle. For such patients, Baylor's lung transplant team can offer a new lease on life. The volume of transplants performed at Baylor puts our program in the top 25 percent of centers nationally.
The Center for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease focuses on more than lung transplants. We also offer a full range of diagnostic tools and advanced therapies for patients with complex, chronic and rare lung diseases. Patients receive coordinated care from a multidisciplinary team of pulmonary physician specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse coordinators, respiratory therapists, dieticians and social workers.
Offering all diagnostic and therapeutic options in one center is more convenient for patients. The team approach is even more appreciated by referring physicians, who lack the time to provide the complexity of diagnostic and therapeutic options and education needed by these patients.
Patients with acute respiratory failure may be candidates for circulatory support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a therapy that Baylor also uses for patients with heart failure. The implantable device is used primarily for reversible lung conditions, such pneumonia, or as a bridge to lung transplant for patients on the waiting list.
Patients with emphysema also have access to minimally invasive lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). Lung volume reduction surgery is a procedure where surgeons remove portions of diseased lung tissue damaged by severe emphysema. By removing poorly functioning tissue, remaining lung tissue can work more efficiently.
Baylor Dallas also offers patients access to clinical trials evaluating potential therapeutic agents. Currently, we are participating in clinical trials to evaluate two new drug therapies, nintedanib and pirfenidone, for interstitial lung disease, also known as interstitial pneumonia. Data presented at the American Thoracic Society and published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed positive benefits with both drugs.
With the recent additions to our medical and surgical team, our program has extensive experience in the surgical and medical care of lung transplant patients. This allows our program actively involved in research to improve outcomes after lung transplantation to accept patients with complex conditions that other centers may refuse. In addition, we are. Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas is the top-ranked hospital in North Texas and continues to be ranked as one of America's top hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
Our experienced lung transplant team at Baylor University Medical Center includes transplant pulmonologists, surgeons, coordinators, social workers, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, anesthesiologists, nutritionists and nurses who work together to provide the best possible quality outcomes for patients. We provide a rapid, comprehensive evaluation to determine the appropriateness and timing of transplantation. Transplant outcomes at Baylor University Medical Center are excellent and continue to improve with one-year survival despite increased patient acuity. Waitlist times continue to decrease as transplant volumes steadily increase.
This article originally appeared in the 2014 Baylor Annette C. And Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute Annual Report.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer McDowell
214-820-4581
jennifer.mcdowell@baylorhealth.edu
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com