Bumrungrad International Hospital announced the successful elevation of its organ transplant center to world-class standards, with outstanding results in heart, kidney, liver, and cornea transplants, giving patients new hope and a new lease on life.
Bangkok – February 5, 2025 – Bumrungrad International Hospital announced a major achievement in elevating its organ transplant center to a center of medical excellence, with world-class standards. The hospital also revealed impressive results in transplants of major organs, including the heart, kidneys, liver, and cornea, igniting new hope for patients.
Organ transplantation is a significant advancement in medical technology, saving lives and improving the quality of life for patients with various chronic diseases, such as kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, and heart failure. It also includes corneal transplants to improve sight, essentially giving patients a new lease on life.
Current Situation of Organ Transplantation
Currently, the world is facing a shortage of organs available for transplantation. Data from the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT) indicates that in 2022, only 157,494 organ transplants were performed worldwide. Kidneys were the most transplanted organs, followed by the liver and heart.
In Thailand, as of December 31, 2024, the Thai Red Cross Organ Donation Center reported 7,486 patients awaiting organ transplants, with 95% waiting for a kidney. The remaining patients are primarily waiting for a liver, heart, lung, or pancreas transplant. At the same time, only 946 people have received organ transplants, and there is an increasing trend of deaths while waiting for a transplant, averaging two per week.
Bumrungrad International Hospital’s Commitment
Assoc. Prof. Taveesin Tanprayoon, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Bumrungrad International Hospital, stated, “Organ transplantation represents new hope and a second chance at life for patients.” He emphasized that Bumrungrad, as a quaternary care facility, is dedicated to developing centers of excellence to provide comprehensive patient care.
With a team of expert physicians and multidisciplinary professionals, Bumrungrad has been certified by the Thai Red Cross Organ Donation Center as a heart, kidney, liver, and cornea transplant center.
Success in Organ Transplantation
- Kidney Transplantation: Tatpong Chit-ua-aree, MD, a nephrologist at Bumrungrad International Hospital, stated that kidneys are the most transplanted organs. Bumrungrad has over 37 years of experience in kidney transplantation, covering early diagnosis, care for chronic kidney disease, and treatment for end-stage renal disease with kidney transplants.
Over the past 2-3 years, Bumrungrad has achieved a kidney transplant success rate of over 90%, comparable to world-class standards in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe.
- Heart Transplantation: Piyachat Pipatpongsopon, MD, a cardiologist specializing in heart failure at Bumrungrad International Hospital, stated that ‘heart transplantation’ is the ultimate treatment to extend the lifespan and improve the quality of life for patients with end-stage heart failure.
The Bumrungrad Heart Institute boasts a team of specialized physicians and multidisciplinary professionals, equipped with advanced technology.
In the past four years, Bumrungrad has successfully performed five heart transplants.
- Liver Transplantation: Orapin Tanapanpanit, MD, a specialist in gastroenterology and hepatology at Bumrungrad International Hospital, stated that liver transplantation helps extend the lifespan and enhance the quality of life for patients with end-stage liver disease.
Patients receiving liver transplants at Bumrungrad have a survival rate of up to 97% in the first year, 82% in five years, and 67% in ten years.
- Corneal Transplantation: Prof. Ngamjit Kasetsuwan, MD, an ophthalmologist specializing in cornea and cataract surgery at Bumrungrad International Hospital, stated that ‘corneal transplantation’ helps restore vision in patients with corneal diseases.
Bumrungrad International Hospital has achieved a remarkable 97% success rate in corneal transplantation.
Technology and Innovation
The success of the Bumrungrad Organ Transplant Center stems from the combination of experienced medical teams, cutting-edge technology, and innovative approaches such as gene analysis, laparoscopic surgical techniques, and robotic surgery.
Bumrungrad International Hospital is committed to being a leader in providing world-class organ transplantation services, offering a second chance at life to patients.
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