Transplant Surgery Milestones
Today, BWH is recognized as one of the world’s leaders in transplantation. In 1954, a Brigham team led by Dr. Joseph Murray performed the first successful human organ donor transplant, a kidney, from one brother to another. In recognition of this achievement, Dr. Murray received the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1990. In 2006, BWH performed for the first time in its history 100 kidney transplants in one year. The first heart transplant in New England was performed at BWH in 1984; two decades later, the 500th transplant was successfully performed at the hospital. At BWH, the first heart-lung transplant in Massachusetts was performed in 1992, the first triple organ transplant in the country in 1995, and the first in the nation’s quintuple lung transplant in 2004.
2009 Since 1984, BWH has performed more than 550 heart transplants and encompasses one of the busiest cardiac transplantation and circulatory assist programs in New England, with patients’ survival exceeding national averages.
2008 Brigham and Women’s performed 30 lung transplants, the most the hospital has done in one year, and putting BWH among the top hospitals in the country for volume. The program began at BWH in 1990, and we perform 80 percent of the region’s adult lung transplants.
2007 Brigham and Women’s has its best year for organ donation yet and receives a medal of honor from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services for impressive rates of organ donation
2005 BWH marked its 500th heart transplant, the most for any New England hospital. This historic operation adds BWH to an exclusive list of hospitals nationwide to reach this mark, according to the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS).
2004 BWH achieves another transplant "first." Hundreds of BWH staff - including doctors, nurses and intensive care staff - came in on their weekend time off to make possible five lung transplants in 36 hours.
2000 In what is believed to be a "first" in organ transplantation, BWH performs a quadruple transplant. Harvesting four organs from a single donor – a kidney, two lungs and a heart – hospital surgeons give new hope to four patients.
1995 BWH performs the nation's first triple organ transplant, removing three organs from a single donor-two lungs and a heart-and transplanting them into three patients, giving each a new lease on life.
1992 BWH performs the first heart-lung transplant in Massachusetts.
1990 Joseph Murray, MD, receives the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his pioneering role in organ transplantation (see 1954, first successful human organ transplant), and his subsequent work in developing immunosuppressive drugs.
1990 BWH performs the first adult lung transplant in Massachusetts
1984 The first heart transplant in New England is performed at BWH.
1979 The immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine-A, now standard therapy for organ transplant patients, is first used for the treatment of renal transplant patients (Peter Bent Brigham Hospital).
RELATED LINKS
BWH Milestones
Plastic Surgery
Transplant Surgery
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