Daclatasvir for him back in late 2011, actually was able to get another experimental protocol
on which we build all of our transplant programs.
>> We've done over 2000 liver transplants. We're one of a larger pediatric
liver transplant program so we have a lot of experience and expertise.
>> University of Michigan has a long history of being a leader
in liver transplantation and other surgery of the liver.
We have always been a program that's been very
comfortable with split liver transplantation, which is a relatively uncommon
technique to split one liver to be utilized for two recipients.
We've also evolved the way we do liver transplantation to try
and make the operation more efficient and safer for patients.
The viral hepatitis patients are still a major portion of our program,
and the really exciting thing about that patient group is now we have novel therapies in terms
of medications that can clear them of their virus, so not only do we cure them
of their cirrhosis and the complications but also of their viral hepatitis.
>> It was about six months after my transplant I had to come in,
and they told me that the hepatitis C was aggressively attacking my new liver,
and so they came up with this new medication that I took.
>> So it was really due to the good graces of the FDA and everything kind
of coming together perfectly that we got the two drugs
from two different companies to use in his treatment course.
And much to my surprise, not only did they approve this experimental Phase 2 drug called
Daclatasvir for him back in late 2011, actually was able to get another experimental protocol
to use in combination, which was unheard of at
the time, and within two months he was ready to go back to work and feeling great.
>> It's like I was reborn. I had a new lease on life.
>> So we have a longstanding track record in
hepatitis B in the transplant setting and also
in hepatitis C we were able to treat patients like Mr. Goldstein four or five years ago
with these novel oral antiviral agents, and we continue to sort of push the envelope as
to when you can give these agents
and to which patients. We've trained a lot of people who've
gone out to practice transplant surgery and transplant hepatology and it's
something we're very proud of. >> Our transplant program has
had a long history of leadership in expanding donor organ availability
both nationally and locally. We have an extensive history in
development of donation after cardiac death. >> So we were one of the first
centers to use core positive livers. So as you know, a core positive liver is
a donor who was exposed to hepatitis B and still has detectable core antibody.
So we realized those were very good livers. They just carried a small risk of infection.
Going forward we hope to use oral antiviral agents using hep C positive livers potentially
even in Hep C negative patients. >> I think our transplant
center is unique in the fact that we bring both skilled clinicians
and basic scientists together. We also have teams looking at outcomes, clinical
and translational research, and the dedication to really making the patient
the center of our care. >> The work I'm most proud
of here at the University of Michigan is really the
team that we've created. Transplant is the ultimate team sport.
It requires a team of nurses, physicians, coordinators, engagement with the patient
and their caregivers, and I really think we've tried to take a comprehensive approach to
that. >> Our patients are very complex in their
care needs, and if we don't have that collaboration
with all of the other members of our multi- disciplinary team, we cannot go forth
and make the best plan for our patients. >> Of course, it's scary.
None of us grew up thinking we were going to have a liver transplant someday.
You want to be an astronaut, you want to be a fireman,
but who wants to grow up and have a liver transplant?
Nobody. What we do here and I think we do it so well, is that we've got a legion
of post transplant volunteers who come faithfully to join us at our group meetings
and talk about their own experience. >> I volunteer at U of M on intake patients
when they first come in and the educational part,
I speak to the people about what my experience is.
I'm more of a giver now than a taker. They do a fantastic job.
If it wasn't for U of M, I somewhat think sometimes of where would I be at.
I don't believe I'd be here. I really don't.
I don't believe that another hospital could have did what they did for me.
It is so personal to me. My life exists because of the
University of Michigan Hospital.