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Teen receives double-lung liver transplant
An Austin, Texas, teen became the first pediatric recipient of a double-lung and liver transplant in the southern and southwestern United States earlier this year.
The procedure, only the 20th in the world to be performed on a patient of any age, occurred Monday, Jan. 5, at Texas Children's Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. The hospital houses the region's largest pediatric lung and liver program.
Paul "Chase" McGowen, 13, underwent surgery to replace organs damaged by cystic fibrosis, a hereditary disease that causes multiple problems, including lung and liver failure. The operation, in which the lungs were transplanted prior to the liver, took approximately 12 hours.
Dr. George Mallory, director of Texas Children's Pediatric Lung Transplant Program, cited teamwork for the procedure, which allowed the teen to breathe on his own the night after surgery for the first time in more than a year.
Other team members include Dr. John Goss, who performed the liver transplant and directs the liver transplant program at Texas Children's; and Dr. E. Dean McKenzie, who performed the double-lung transplant and is the surgical director of Texas Children's heart and lung transplantation program.
Learn more about the procedure. | 
