Hackensack University Medical Center First Hospital in New Jersey to Perform Kidney Transplant Using Cutting-Edge, Life-Saving Technology

Ex Vivo Hypothermic Machine Preservation technology increases kidney’s viability and lifespan, improving patient outcomes

Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center today announced that it became the first hospital in the New Jersey to perform a kidney transplant with a kidney preserved at its own Organ Preservation Center using the LifePort Kidney Transporter, an ex vivo hypothermic machine preservation technology. Hypothermic machine preservation is a cutting-edge, life-saving technology that increases a kidney’s viability and lifespan, improving patient outcomes.

“Hackensack University Medical Center is dedicated to providing the safest, highest quality care for patients,” said Mark D. Sparta, FACHE, president and chief hospital executive, Hackensack University Medical Center and executive vice president of Population Health, Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are so proud of our kidney transplant team, who is leading the way in reducing wait times and increasing survival rates. This innovative technology will help us improve patient outcomes.”

Michael J. Goldstein, M.D., FACS, director of Organ Transplantation, director of kidney & pancreas transplantation, Division of Organ Transplantation, Hackensack University Medical Center, performed the groundbreaking transplant in January on Bronx, New York resident, Arcadio Guzman, 38. Mr. Guzman is doing well following the transplant.

“We are thrilled to become the first hospital in New Jersey to offer this life-saving kidney preservation technology as part of routine transplant care to expand the window of time in which a kidney is viable and further reduce the time it takes to receive a kidney transplant,” said Dr. Goldstein. “This new technology will help us improve patient outcomes and save more lives.”

The Organ Transplantation Division at Hackensack University Medical Center recently marked a major milestone in 2019 of performing 113 successful transplants. Hackensack University Medical Center’s renowned transplant program has the second largest transplant program in New Jersey. According to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, Hackensack University Medical Center is ranked second in the nation among 263 transplant centers at providing life-saving deceased donor kidneys faster and ranked third in the nation for the best kidney survival at one year after transplantation.

“Right now, there are over one hundred thousand patients across the country on a waiting list for a kidney transplant and thousands of potentially life-saving organs that are discarded every year,” added Dr.Goldstein. “Hackensack University Medical Center’s transplant team is elevating the standard of care across the region for transplant outcomes. We are committed to helping more people access kidney transplantation as a life-saving treatment and utilize more organs that should be transplanted successfully.”