CCSS performing eight organ transplants per week

February 26^th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) The Costa Rican Social Security System, CCSS, performed an average of eight organ transplants per week in 2012.

The information comes from the health statistics database, based on statistics from all of the different medical centers, which form Costa Rica’s public health system.

According to the statistics, between January and November of last year, 454 transplants were performed, including 115 kidneys, 5 livers, 261 corneas, 18 bone transplants, and 55 bone marrow transplants.

While the CCSS is certainly getting a lot of experience in transplants, such procedures always involve a great deal of complexity, logistics, and organization.

In the case of a kidney transplant, according to Dr. Manuel Cerdas Calderon, a kidney specialist and member of Hospital Mexico’s kidney transplant team, preparing for an operation of this magnitude involves a lot of work, including many tests that must be performed on both the donor and the organ receipient.

According to the doctor, it takes two operating rooms an average of four hours for each kidney transplant.  At Hospital Mexico, kidney transplants are scheduled each Wednesday from 8am until noon.

The procedure involves six surgeons, two anesthesiologists, a kidney specialist, and nursing staff.

After the surgery, the patient spends at least a week in the transplant unit where they are closely monitored.

At present, 60% of kidney transplants performed at Hospital Mexico involve a living donor, usually a close family member of the patient.