Hoag to Launch Orange County’s First Liver Transplant Program in 20 Years

For the first time in two decades, residents of Orange County will have access to liver transplant procedures closer to home. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has announced the establishment of a new organ transplant center, with the potential to perform liver and kidney transplants as early as next year, contingent upon securing regulatory approvals.

This initiative aims to enhance access to life-saving medical care for individuals in Orange County, alleviating the need for them to travel outside their communities for such crucial interventions. Dr. Kenneth J. Chang, the executive director of Hoag’s Digestive Health Institute, emphasized the importance of keeping patients close to their support systems during these challenging times.

Hoag’s existing infrastructure for pre- and post-transplant care has been in development for the past five years. Currently, the facility refers about 40 liver transplant candidates annually to five transplant centers throughout Southern California, and some patients have had to travel as far as Arizona for surgery. With this new center, Hoag plans to consolidate these services, providing comprehensive care in one location.

The next year will involve efforts towards obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals and building out the new facility. In addition, the hospital will recruit skilled surgeons, medical staff, and nutritionists to ensure robust support for transplant patients. Initially, the center will focus on liver and kidney transplants, with plans for further expansion to include additional organs in the future.

Dr. Aaron Ahearn, the newly appointed surgical director of the liver and kidney transplant program, indicated that during the first year of operation, the facility will perform between 10 to 20 transplants as part of a trial phase. Following that initial year, the expectation is to increase the number of liver transplants to between 50 to 70 annually.

Orange County, which is home to over three million residents, has been without a liver transplant center since the closure of the UCI Medical Center program in 2005. Despite this gap, UCI Health still operates the county’s largest kidney and pancreas transplant program. In contrast, San Diego County, which has a similar population size, hosts two liver transplant programs.

The backdrop for this development is a concerning rise in alcohol-related liver diseases, which has more than doubled over the past two decades, especially among women and older adults. A report from Keck Medicine of USC projects that cases of liver cancer could double by 2040. This surge in liver-related health issues has led to increased demand for liver transplants, with thousands of patients dying each year while waiting for available organs.

The discrepancy between the number of organs available for transplantation and the growing need is particularly acute in California, highlighting the urgent need for local facilities. Innovations in organ storage technology have emerged as a beacon of hope, expanding the availability of donor organs and resulting in a decline in waitlist-related fatalities.

Hoag’s Digestive Health Institute, part of its expansive billion development, signifies a critical step toward addressing these healthcare disparities in Orange County. As the organ transplant center prepares to open its doors, there is cautious optimism about its potential to improve patient outcomes and offer life-saving treatments closer to home.