A 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl who battled for an
organ donation successfully underwent a double lung transplant Wednesday and
her family said doctors were “pleased” at her progress and prognosis.
organ donation successfully underwent a double lung transplant Wednesday and
her family said doctors were “pleased” at her progress and prognosis.
Sarah Murnaghan, who suffers from severe cystic
fibrosis, received new lungs from an adult donor in surgery at Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia, spokeswoman Tracy Simon said.
fibrosis, received new lungs from an adult donor in surgery at Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia, spokeswoman Tracy Simon said.
The Murnaghan family said it was
“thrilled” to share the news that Sarah was out of surgery.
“thrilled” to share the news that Sarah was out of surgery.
“Her doctors are very pleased with both her
progress during the procedure and her prognosis for recovery,” the family
said in a statement.
progress during the procedure and her prognosis for recovery,” the family
said in a statement.
During double-lung transplants, surgeons must open
up the patient’s chest. Complications can include rejection of the new lungs
and infection.
up the patient’s chest. Complications can include rejection of the new lungs
and infection.
Sarah went into surgery around 11 a.m. Wednesday,
and the procedure lasted about six hours, her family said. She is expected to spend
approximately two weeks recovering in hospital.
and the procedure lasted about six hours, her family said. She is expected to spend
approximately two weeks recovering in hospital.
“The surgeons had no challenges resizing and
transplanting the donor lungs — the surgery went smoothly, and Sarah did
extremely well,” it said.
transplanting the donor lungs — the surgery went smoothly, and Sarah did
extremely well,” it said.
Sarah’s family and the family of another cystic
fibrosis patient at the same hospital challenged transplant policy that made
children under 12 wait for pediatric lungs to become available or be offered
lungs donated by adults only after adolescents and adults on the waiting list
had been considered. They said pediatric lungs are rarely donated.
fibrosis patient at the same hospital challenged transplant policy that made
children under 12 wait for pediatric lungs to become available or be offered
lungs donated by adults only after adolescents and adults on the waiting list
had been considered. They said pediatric lungs are rarely donated.
Sarah’s health was deteriorating when a judge
intervened in her case last week, giving her a chance at the much larger list
of organs from adult donors. U.S. District Judge Michael
intervened in her case last week, giving her a chance at the much larger list
of organs from adult donors. U.S. District Judge Michael
Baylson ruled June 5 that Sarah and 11-year-old
Javier Acosta, of New York City, should be eligible for adult lungs.
Javier Acosta, of New York City, should be eligible for adult lungs.
Critics warned there could be a downside to having
judges intervene in the organ transplant system’s established procedures. Lung
transplants are difficult procedures, and some experts say child patients tend
to have more trouble with them than adults do.
judges intervene in the organ transplant system’s established procedures. Lung
transplants are difficult procedures, and some experts say child patients tend
to have more trouble with them than adults do.
No other details about the donor lungs are known,
including whether they came through the regular donor system or through public
appeals.
including whether they came through the regular donor system or through public
appeals.
Sarah’s relatives, who are from Newtown Square,
just west of Philadelphia, were “elated this day has come.” However,
they also expressed their gratitude to the family of the lung donor.
just west of Philadelphia, were “elated this day has come.” However,
they also expressed their gratitude to the family of the lung donor.
“We also know our good news is another
family’s tragedy. That family made the decision to give Sarah the gift of life
— and they are the true heroes today.”
family’s tragedy. That family made the decision to give Sarah the gift of life
— and they are the true heroes today.”
The Murnaghan family received word about the donor
lungs Tuesday night, family spokeswoman Maureen Garrity said.
lungs Tuesday night, family spokeswoman Maureen Garrity said.
Sarah’s mother, Janet Murnaghan, said in a Facebook
post that the family was “overwhelmed with emotions” and thanked all
her supporters. She said the donor’s family “has experienced a tremendous
loss, may God grant them a peace that surpasses understanding.”
post that the family was “overwhelmed with emotions” and thanked all
her supporters. She said the donor’s family “has experienced a tremendous
loss, may God grant them a peace that surpasses understanding.”
The national organization that manages organ
transplants, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, added Sarah to
the adult waiting list after the judge’s ruling. Her transplant came two days
before a hearing was scheduled on the family’s request for a broader
injunction.
transplants, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, added Sarah to
the adult waiting list after the judge’s ruling. Her transplant came two days
before a hearing was scheduled on the family’s request for a broader
injunction.
The network has said 31 children under age 11 are
on the waiting list for a lung transplant. Its executive committee held an
emergency meeting this week but resisted making emergency rule changes for
children under 12 who are waiting on lungs, instead creating a special appeal
and review system to hear such cases.
on the waiting list for a lung transplant. Its executive committee held an
emergency meeting this week but resisted making emergency rule changes for
children under 12 who are waiting on lungs, instead creating a special appeal
and review system to hear such cases.
Sarah’s family “did have a legitimate
complaint” about the rule that limited her access to adult lungs, said
medical ethicist Arthur Caplan, of the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York.
complaint” about the rule that limited her access to adult lungs, said
medical ethicist Arthur Caplan, of the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York.
“When the transplant community met, they
didn’t want to change that rule without really thinking carefully about
it,” he said. The appeals process that was established this week, he said,
was “built on evidence, not on influence.”
didn’t want to change that rule without really thinking carefully about
it,” he said. The appeals process that was established this week, he said,
was “built on evidence, not on influence.”
He added: “In general, the road to a
transplant is still to let the system decide who will do best with scarce,
lifesaving organs. And it’s important that people understand that money,
visibility, being photogenic … are factors that have to be kept to a minimum
if we’re going to get the best use out of the scarce supply of donated cadaver
organs.”
transplant is still to let the system decide who will do best with scarce,
lifesaving organs. And it’s important that people understand that money,
visibility, being photogenic … are factors that have to be kept to a minimum
if we’re going to get the best use out of the scarce supply of donated cadaver
organs.”
