UMC PERFORMS STATE'S FIRST LAPAROSCOPIC LIVING DONOR NEPHRECTOMY

A Jackson man found it in his heart to give up one of his kidneys.

Jeffrey Purvis, 35, gave the ultimate gift to his half-brother James Carr July 18 when he donated one of his kidneys to save Carr’s life.

It was the first laparoscopic living donor kidney donation (nephrectomy) done in Mississippi.

When asked what motivated him to render such an act of kindness, Purvis simply said, “Because he’s my brother.” And although he felt some discomfort after the procedure, he said he would do it again if it were possible.

Dr. Alan Hawxby, UMC assistant professor of surgery, was lead surgeon for the procedure; Dr. Henry Barber, UMC professor of surgery, transplanted the kidney into Carr.

“Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy for transplantation was first introduced at John Hopkins Hospital in 1995,” Hawxby said. “Since its introduction, laparoscopic nephrectomies have spread to nearly every transplant center in the U.S.”

Hawxby said Mississippians will benefit greatly from this procedure, which is expected to be used in the majority of living donor cases.

“The benefits of the procedure are many,” Hawxby said. “The donor avoids significant postoperative pain and enjoys a decreased hospital stay.” 

He said the recipient benefits as well.

“We can say with certainty that we know the kidney being transplanted is from a high-quality, healthy donor, since we are able to see them and examine them personally in our clinic,” he said. “From a logistical standpoint, we get to do these transplants during regular working hours, and not after-hours or on weekends, which is frequently the case for deceased donor transplantation.”

Carr discovered he was in renal failure while getting a physical for a potential employer.

“They told me I would have to go on dialysis, and when I told Jeffrey about it, he said he would see if he could donate one of his kidneys to me.”

The rest is Mississippi medical history.

Carr was up and walking within two days after surgery, grateful to his brother for his newfound health.

“I love him to death,” Carr said. “I am really grateful for what he has done. And I’m amazed at how great my whole body feels.”

“The living-related transplantation program is an important milestone for all the people in Mississippi in need of a transplant,” said Dr. Will Ferniany, chief executive officer of University Hospitals and Clinics. “The program doesn’t only benefit the person being transplanted, but their loved ones, the places they work and everyone in Mississippi.”     

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is the only transplant center in the state, having recently broken a record for the number of kidney transplants in the institution’s history.

—Dani Edmonson (8-20-07)

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