Kidney transplantation is not just about immunosuppression but also about harvesting and preserving the donated kidney. A transplant donor pioneer - Dr. Robert McCabe - died according to the New York Times.
It's worth reading about his life because it demonstrates two very important aspects about Dr. McCabe - the adventurer spirit in him and his determination to develop better ways to preserve the kidney between harvesting and placement in the recipient.
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| Source: NY Times |
It's worth reading about his life because it demonstrates two very important aspects about Dr. McCabe - the adventurer spirit in him and his determination to develop better ways to preserve the kidney between harvesting and placement in the recipient.
"The first successful kidney transplant was conducted in 1954, and the procedure was rapidly adopted around the world. But by the late 1970s, hospitals faced challenges in preserving an organ during the out-of-body interim and in matching donors with recipients.
Dr. McCabe, who performed transplants at St. Luke’s, taught himself to become a specialist in organ preservation using cold storage as well as a machine developed by the transplant surgeon Dr. Folkert O. Belzer. The process, known as machine perfusion, uses a blend of fluids to simulate a kidney’s natural function until the kidney is transplanted. Dr. McCabe helped refine the blend."
