Transplantation Services

TEAM

Dr Michael Crawford
Head of Department

A/Prof Jerome Laurence
Research, Kidney & Education Lead

A/Prof Carlo Pulitano
Research Lead - Liver

Dr David Joseph

Dr Henry Pleass

A/Prof Charbel Sandroussi

Dr David Yeo

About the Department

The world renowned transplantation surgery at RPA includes liver and renal transplantation with the team of specialist surgeons achieving outstanding patient outcomes by working in close collaboration with an exceptional multi-disciplinary team. The RPA team participate in the national organ retrieval roster and lead the development of national and international guidelines for donor organ allocation, organ retrieval, recipient listing and post-operative care.

Achievements

• A worldwide leader in patient outcomes following kidney transplant and liver transplant
• The Australian Liver Transplant Unit (ALTU) at RPA is a Statewide service for NSW and ACT, and is one of the busiest units in Australia
• One of the largest kidney transplantation services in Australia
• Performed its 3000th kidney transplant in 2019
• Established the NSW Deceased Donor Organ Procurement Service
• World first triple transplant (Liver, Pancreas, Kidney) in 2006
• Established the 'Split liver transplant program' in 2002
• First successful adult and paediatric liver transplants in NSW performed in 1986
• First kidney transplant in Australia performed in 1967

Key Research Themes

• Transplantation surgical technique
  
• Surgical outcomes
  
• Factors influencing organ donation
  
• Extending criteria of acceptance of deceased donor organs
  
• Ex-vivo (out of body) organ perfusion machines to prolong donor organ life prior to transplant
  
• Assessment and treatment of donor organs on ex-vivo perfusion to optimise donor organs for the recipient
  
• Prevention of delayed graft function in renal transplantation
  
• Avoidance of wound infections in kidney transplantation
  
• Usage of robotic-assisted surgery for kidney transplantation
  
• Establishment of a clinical uterine transplant program

Key Education & Training Activities

• Patient education
• Deceased donor organ retrieval surgery: medical officers, nurses and coordinators
• Microsurgery training
• PhD and Masters student supervision
• Training sessions for SET trainees
• Graduate Medical Program - University of Sydney

Area of Expertise

• Kidney and liver transplantation
  
• Living donor kidney and liver transplantation
  
• Organ procurement
  
• Haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
  
• Multi-organ transplantation

Useful Links

• Affiliate Organisations
  
• RPA Transplant Institute
  
• Australia and New Zealand Liver Transplant Registry
  
• Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand
  
• Transplant Advisory Council
  
• NSW Organ and Tissue Donor Service
  
• Australian Organ and Tissue Authority
  
• Transplant Surgery Department Westmead Hospital
  
• St Vincent's Hospital Cardiothoracic transplant unit
  
• Charles Perkins Centre - University of Sydney
  
• Centenary Institute
  
• Sydney Children's Hospital - Westmead

Contact
(same as the website)

Michael Crawford
Level 9 Transplantation Services, Clinical Building RPA

(02) 9565 4854