CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA: Northwestern Medicine’s Canning Thoracic Institute is making groundbreaking advancements in lung transplantation, setting new records in the United States. Situated at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago, the institute performed an impressive 140 lung transplants last year alone. This achievement has been bolstered by the use of cutting-edge technology that benefits both the patients and the medical staff involved in these life-saving procedures.
Ted Cross from Texas embodies the hope these medical breakthroughs represent. Having battled cancer for nearly a decade, Cross’s condition was deemed terminal, with his only prior option being chemotherapy. However, at Northwestern, he found a lifeline. A challenging but successful lung transplant surgery provided Ted with diseased lungs replaced, offering him renewed vitality. Central to the success of such procedures is the innovative lung preservation technology which allows organs to remain viable for up to 18 hours before transplantation.
This technology, previously applied in limb and tissue preservation, ensures that donor lungs can maintain their quality and function longer than ever before. This advancement is crucial, given the time-sensitive nature of organ transplants. As a result, Northwestern Medicine not only boasts the highest number of lung transplants in the country but also claims the shortest wait time, with a median of merely four days—a potential world record.
For patients desperately awaiting organ transplants, time is of the essence as 15 to 20% risk dying before receiving a suitable donor. By embracing innovative technologies and taking on complex cases, Northwestern’s Canning Thoracic Institute provides an essential lifeline to those in critical need, minimizing overnight surgeries and ensuring efficient scheduling for the medical team. This commitment to pushing the boundaries of medical science serves as a beacon of hope for patients like Ted Cross and many others across the nation.
