Texas Children's Hospital performs rare triple-organ transplant on teen

HOUSTON - (July 14, 2010) - Texas Children's Hospital in Houston hasperformed the hospital's first triple-organ transplant on a 16-year-old Brenhamresident.The patient, Taylor Sherrouse, underwent a 13-hour surgery on Tuesday,June 22 to replace her heart, lungs and liver, which had been severely damagedby cystic fibrosis. Taylor is one of only three pediatric patients in thecountry this decade to receive heart, lungs and liver in one operation. Tayloris recovering well and is scheduled to be discharged this week. Watcha video of Taylor's journey here.

JeffreyS. Heinle, MD, surgical director of Texas Children's heart and lung transplantationprogram, performed the heart-and-double-lung portion of the transplant, whichlasted more than nine hours. Once the heart and lungs were transplanted, Dr.John Goss, director of the liver transplant programs at TexasChildren's and associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine, performed athree and a half hour liver transplant.

"The triple combination of heart-lung-liver transplantation is arare pediatric procedure, in this country," said Heinle, who is also anassistant professor of surgery at BaylorCollege of Medicine. "We are extremely pleased with Taylor's progress. Webelieve this operation will give her an opportunity for a good quality of lifeand a chance to fulfill some of her dreams. Without the 3 organs, her long-termoutlook was not good."

Taylor has been treated for cystic fibrosis at Texas Children's for 12years. During that time, she has suffered recurring liver problems orrespiratory infections that landed her in the hospital for weeks at a time.Doctors worked hard to keep her condition stable, but her lungs and livercontinued to worsen.

In early November 2009, she was admitted to Texas Children's with a lunginfection. Even though she hoped to be home by Thanksgiving, she was never ableto leave the hospital. During those seven months, her liver and lungs weregetting progressively worse with an added complication of a severe heartproblem. Cardiologists diagnosed a restrictive cardiomyopathy, meaning that herheart muscle was stiff and chambers could not properly fill with blood. On June11, doctors listed her for a triple organ transplant.

In the dawn hours of June 22, Taylor learned that three suitable organshad become available, and she was taken to be prepped for the raretransplantation.

"Taylor's recovery has been going amazingly well," said Dr.George Mallory, pediatric pulmonologist at Texas Children's and associateprofessor at Baylor College of Medicine. "This triple-organ surgeryhighlights the critical need for small donor organs in this country that cansave more young lives," said Mallory. "We are grateful for familieswho donate organs, and our regional organ procurement partner, LifeGift. Wework together to save children whose organs are so damaged that transplantationis the only life-saving option."

Texas Children's History of Transplantation

Texas Children's Hospital runs an active transplantation program in heart,lungs, liver, kidney and bone morrow for pediatric patients. In 1984, Dr.Denton A. Cooley performed the first pediatric heart transplant on a9-month-old female patient. She lived to be 13 years old. Since that time, theheart transplant program has grown into one of the largest and most successfulprogram of its kind in the nation, averaging 12 to 15 transplants per year.

The Pediatric Liver Transplant Program, founded July 1, 2000, hasperformed 192 pediatric transplants since its inception. So far this year, 13patients have been transplanted with 12 other patients on the waiting list.

The Pediatric Lung Transplant Program, founded in 2002 by pediatricpulmonologist, Dr. George Mallory and pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. E.Dean McKenzie, is one of only 5 pediatric lung transplant centers in thecountry. In the 8 years, the center has transplanted 101 patients, ranging frombabies to teens. This year's count stands at 11 patients transplanted with 6patients on a wait list.

In addition to transplanting single organs, Texas Children's hastransplanted 9 other pediatric patients with double organs such as heart-lungs,heart-kidney and lungs-liver.

About Texas Children’s Hospital

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation’s first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that’s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.