~
The surgery was performed by Dr. Juan
Sanchez, heart transplant surgeon and director of UK’s heart transplant program. Last
night, Sanchez flew from Lexington to recover the heart from a Kentucky donor.
~ |
The University of Kentucky Hospital’s
100th heart transplant was performed early this morning (Friday, Dec. 5, 1997). The
100th heart transplant recipient is David Gay, age 50, of Mt. Sterling, Ky. Gay suffered
from ischemic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure caused by severe coronary artery
disease. He had been on UK Hospital’s waiting list since Nov. 19, and his condition
had recently deteriorated.
The surgery was performed by Dr. Juan Sanchez, heart transplant surgeon and director of
UK’s heart transplant program. Last night, Sanchez flew from Lexington to recover the
heart from a Kentucky donor.
"Although this surgery was technically challenging since Mr. Gay previously had
open heart surgeries, it went smoothly," said Sanchez. The surgery lasted
approximately five hours, beginning before midnight. Gay is in the hospital's intensive
care unit and remains on a ventilator. As is typical of transplant patients, his condition
is critical, but stable.
UK Hospital established its heart transplant program in 1991. Central and Eastern
Kentucky’s first heart transplant patient was Jimmy Epperling, who received a
transplant March 28, 1991.
Currently, there are 11 patients awaiting heart transplants at UK Hospital. There are
79 people on Kentucky's waiting list for a heart transplant and 3,895 waiting in the
United States.
By Mary
Margaret Colliver |
