• #1 liver transplant program in the country
• Only pediatric heart transplant program in Louisiana
• Only living donor liver transplant program in Louisiana
• Medicare-approved transplant center for heart, liver, lung and kidney transplantation
• Center of Excellence designation for most insurers
• Performed the first heart, kidney and liver transplants in the state in 1970, 1973 and 1984, respectively.

At Ochsner, it’s all about making sure our patients do better, live longer and experience fewer complications. We combine advanced technology, specialized procedures and a patient-focused approach that leads to successful outcomes. Patients find peace of mind knowing that our transplant success rates and survival rates are greater than the national average.

The Ochsner Transplant Institute has streamlined the care process around the needs of our patients, leading to shorter wait times. A one-day evaluation clinic is offered to help our patients move through the process and get on the waiting list sooner. Along with shorter wait times, Ochsner is known for minimal surgery times, fewer days in critical care and shorter hospital stays.

The Ochsner Transplant Institute functions as an integrated team – and our patients play an integral part in the transplant process.

Ochsner created a patient-transplant team covenant to help promote trusting relationships and foster the highest standards of care. The covenant is a series of commitments made by Ochsner patients and caregivers, who pledge to work together with respect, trust and in partnership.

Through the covenant, the Ochsner transplant staff commit to always value patients as people, tell patients the truth with compassion and include patients as active team members. In turn, patients agree to value their caregivers as people, tell the truth with confidence and be active members of the transplant team. The partnerships among patients and the transplant team start with the first visit and continue over many years.

Each patient is assigned a transplant coordinator who serves as the main contact person through each stage of treatment – before, during and after transplant. The patient experience begins with the one-day clinic where the patient sees everyone they need to see on the same day, eliminating the need for multiple visits.

At Ochsner, we nurture patients and their families and support their emotional and social needs. This extra measure of care is especially important for transplant patients because of the complexity of their treatment and the life-long nature of our relationship.

At the Ochsner Transplant Institute, we truly function as a team made up of physicians, advance practice providers, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, financial coordinators and other healthcare providers. Your transplant coordinator will be there for you whenever you need them, walking you through the process every step of the way.

In 1984, the first liver transplant in the state was performed at Ochsner. We’re the most experienced liver transplant center in the Gulf South with over 3,000 adult and pediatric liver transplants performed by our surgeons. Our program is ranked among the top programs in the country for quality every year. We are currently ranked #2 in the country for liver quality by Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

The Ochsner Hospital for Children Pediatric Liver Transplant program is the only active pediatric liver transplant program in the state of Louisiana. We offer a full range of liver transplant options, including split and reduced livers, as well as living donor liver transplants.

In 1973, Ochsner performed our first kidney transplant surgery. Almost 50 years and 2,950 kidney and kidney-pancreas transplants later, the surgery has become a routine procedure. Ochsner offers a combined kidney-pancreas transplant program close to home. A kidney-pancreas transplant reduces long-term health risks associated with diabetes, including vision loss from retinopathy, heart disease, heart attack and nerve damage. Our team has created an environment of excellence where you are not just a name on a national register, but an individual with a life you can’t wait to get back to.

The Ochsner Transplant Institute is the only lung transplant center in Louisiana and Mississippi and is one of the region’s most active and experienced. We perform both single and double-lung transplants as well as lung re-transplants in some patients who develop chronic rejection.

Heart transplants are the third-most common organ transplant operation in the United States. At the Ochsner Transplant Institute, approximately 25 patients receive new hearts every year. Ochsner Health has performed over 1,000 heart transplants to date, joining only a handful of programs around the country that have reached this level of expertise and volume. Our successful outcomes reflect that experience.

Ochsner performs heart transplants on pediatric patients from birth to age 18 and is the only pediatric heart transplant program in the state of Louisiana. Ochsner accepts patients with all types of pediatric heart diseases from congenital anomalies such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome to acquired heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy.

Ochsner Health is home to the only living donor liver program in Louisiana. A living donor liver transplantation is a surgery that removes a diseased or malfunctioning liver and replaces it with a portion of a healthy liver from a living donor. Liver regeneration allows the partial livers of the donor and the recipient to grow into complete organs.

Today, 30% of Ochsner’s kidney transplant patients receive organs from living donors. While a kidney from a living donor is the best option for the patient, the decision to donate a kidney must be a voluntary one, made willingly.

Referrals

To refer a patient to the Ochsner Transplant Institute or to learn more about the program, please contact us in one of the following ways:

Phone: 504-842-3925

Email:
LiverTransplant@Ochsner.org
KidneyTransplant@Ochsner.org

Second opinions

If you’ve been turned down for an organ transplant or seek reassurance that your diagnosis is correct and you’re getting the right care, the next step may be a second opinion.

Call 504-842-3925 to make an appointment today.

What organs can be donated?

The list of organs and tissue that can be donated are constantly growing. The list include kidney, lung, liver, pancreas, heart, intestines, corneas, bone marrow, cord blood stem cells, peripheral blood stem cells, blood and platelets. Tissues can be used for burns, to replace veins and repair damaged tissue and cartilage. Face and hands have recently been added to the list of organ donations.

Who can donate organs?

People of all ages and medical histories can be a potential donor. Senior citizens in their 90s have been organ donors, and in 2019, 1 out of every 3 people who donated organs was over the age of 50. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissue can be donated. Click here to learn more on how to register locally and nationally.

What is the process of organ donation?

Most organ donation occur after the donor has died. However, some organs can be donated as a living donor. At Ochsner Health, we have a living donor liver transplant program and a living donor kidney transplant program. A registered donor can save up to nine lives. Click here to learn more about being a living and a deceased donor.

How are organs matched?

There are several factors used to match organs with patients in need. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has policies and computerized networks that align transplant candidates with donated organs in ways that save as many lives as possible, along with providing patients with the best chance of long-term wellness. Things like income, insurance or celebrity play absolutely no role in who is prioritized for transplant.

Will doctors try not to save me if I’m an organ donor?

If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ donation can only be considered after brain death has been declared by a physician. Many states have adopted legislation allowing individuals to legally designate their wish to be a donor should brain death occur, although in many states organ procurement organizations also require consent from the donor's family.

Is organ donation against my religion?

All major organized religions approve of organ and tissue donation and consider it an act of charity. The U.S. Government Information on Organ Donation and Transplantation has actually compiled a list of official statements and policies released by religious leaders which you can find here. If you are unsure or uncomfortable though, contact someone at the clergy within your church or place of worship for a consultation.

If you are a transplant patient and want the COVID-19 vaccine, click here to learn more.

Support Groups

The transplant social workers lead several support groups to assist and educate patients and families with various transplant issues. These support groups meet monthly at Ochsner Medical Center on Jefferson Highway.

Click here for information on support groups currently being offered. For more information on support groups and meeting dates, contact our social workers at 504-842-3925.

The Brent House Hotel

On-site lodging is available at the Brent House, our full-service hotel located on the Ochsner Medical Center campus. For reservations or information call 1-800-535-3986 or visit the Brent House Hotel website.

Interpreter Services

Interpreter services are available for all languages, including American Sign Language for the deaf or hard of hearing, for all aspects of your care and treatment with us, at no charge to the patient. These services are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. The interpreter may be a face-to-face interpreter, an over-the-phone interpreter, or a video remote interpreter. During all other times, the hospital phone operators act as a liaison to access interpreter services.

For more information on interpreter services, call (504) 842-1717 or e-mail languageservices@ochsner.org.

Prescription Assistance Programs (PAPs)

Talk to your social worker or transplant coordinator right away if you are struggling to keep up with your medicine costs. Some pharmaceutical companies have programs that may help pay for medicines for people who qualify and are underinsured or uninsured.