Kidney transplants are not uncommon – the kidney is in fact the most commonly transplanted organ in the United States – but a The Man from Chicago he recently received it in a very unusual way.
John Nicholas, 28, was awake during the entire procedure, which took place May 24 at Northwestern Medicine Hospital. He was released the next day.
The doctors administered a spinal anesthesia injection — similar to what is used for a C-section — instead of general anesthesia, according to a hospital news release.
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“This is the first case at Northwestern Medicine where a patient was awake during an entire kidney transplant procedure and went home the next day, making it essentially an outpatient procedure,” said Satish Nadig, MD, PhD, transplant surgeon. and director of Northwestern Medicine. Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Center, in the press release.
“In the operating room, it was an incredible experience to be able to show a patient what their new kidney looked like before it was placed in the body,” he added.
Patient John Nicholas is pictured with his surgeons in the operating room after kidney transplant surgery. (Northwest Medicine)
“It was incredibly simple and uneventful.”
This kind of “awake transplant” could reduce surgical risks and shorten the patient’s hospital stay, doctors say.
“It was an incredible experience to be able to show a patient what their new kidney looked like before placing it in the body. »
It could also increase access to care for patients considered high risk or suffering from phobias related to general anesthesia.
Ideal candidate
Nicholas’ surgery lasted about two hours, according to the hospital.
He was considered an ideal patient for awake surgery due to his young age, good health and his “desire to participate,” according to the press release.
John Nicholas is pictured awake during his kidney transplant in late May. (Northwest Medicine)
“It was a pretty cool experience knowing what was happening in real time and being aware of the magnitude of what they were doing,” Nicholas said in a statement to Northwestern.
“At one point during the surgery, I remember asking, ‘Should I expect the spinal anesthesia to kick in?’ » They had already done a lot of work and I was completely unaware of it. Really, no feeling.”
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Although Nicholas was sedated for comfort, he said he was still aware of what was happening.
“Especially when they called me by name and told me about some of the steps they had taken,” he noted.
Nicholas, center, is pictured after surgery with Dr. Vicente Garcia Tomas, his anesthesiologist, left, and Dr. Nadig, transplant surgeon, right. (Northwest Medicine)
Nicholas was released from the hospital on May 25, the day after the operation.
In a typical kidney transplant, the recipient stay in hospital for two to three days.
Saved by a friend
Nicholas’ kidney problems began at age 16 when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, the release said.
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After a few years of drug treatment, his kidney function deteriorated and he needed a transplant.
Nicholas’ mother had originally planned to donate her kidney, but a breast cancer diagnosis prevented her from doing so, the hospital relayed.
Nicholas, left, is pictured with his donor and best friend, Pat Wise, after the operation. (Northwest Medicine)
It was Nicholas’ best friend from elementary school, Pat Wise, 29, of Alexandria, Virginia, who ultimately donated the kidney that saved his life.
“Another tool in our tool belt”
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at Langone Medical Center of New York and Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in the operation but shared his contribution.
“My opinion is that in most cases, spinal anesthesia is a reasonable alternative for people who are at high risk for complications from general anesthesia,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.
Nicholas is pictured awake with his care team during his kidney transplant. (Northwest Medicine)
“That said, general anesthesia would be preferable whenever possible for a major surgical procedure like this,” Dr. Siegel said, “because control of the airway and breathing is essential and is much easier if the patient is asleep and on a ventilator.”
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Northwestern doctors credit the patient with helping advance the field of transplant medicine.
Nicholas, left, and donor Wise are pictured at a press conference after the operation. (Northwest Medicine)
“When John agreed to be the first known patient at Northwestern Medicine to undergo an awake kidney transplant and go home the next day, he knew the benefits outweighed the risks, and… he is now helping to advance the field of transplantation,” Vinayak Rohan, MD, a transplant surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said in the release.
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“He is an extremely docile patient, in tune with his body and ready to push the limits,” emphasizing that the patient had confidence in the doctors and that they, in turn, had confidence in him.
Nicholas, center, is pictured with his entire care team. “He is now helping to advance the field of transplantation,” one surgeon said of the patient. (Northwest Medicine)
The hospital now plans to implement the AWAKE program (accelerated surgery without general anesthesia during kidney transplantation) for patients who wish or need to continue their studies. surgery without general anesthesia.
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“This really opens a whole new door and is another tool in our tool belt for the transplantation field,” Nadig added.
Fox News Digital has contacted Northwestern Medical for additional information.