30 years of organ transplantation at Leipzig University Hospital

Leipzig. 30 years of organ transplantation at Leipzig University Hospital - 30 years of hope for seriously ill people. The history of liver and kidney transplants at the UKL began in 1993. Since then, 2513 organs have been transplanted, 2513 times a person has been given a new chance at life. These gifts of life were made possible by the expertise of the medical staff and many other employees, but above all by the willingness of people to help others as organ donors. This aspect was therefore also the focus of the 30th anniversary celebration on 25 September 2023.

Together with around 150 invited guests, including Minister President Michael Kretschmer and Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow, Leipzig University Hospital (UKL) celebrated the anniversary in the Paulinum at Leipzig University. Among the guests were many patients who were helped with an organ transplant at the UKL, as well as their relatives. Also present were relatives of organ donors, whose willingness to have their organs removed was the reason for their survival.

"Organ donation is the greatest gift that one person can give to another," said Prof Christoph Josten, Medical Director of the UKL. We are very grateful to those who take this step. Because the enormous possibilities of today's transplantation medicine are nothing if there are no donated organs. Our therapy depends directly on the decision to allow strangers to live on after death. In some cases, a living donation is possible - this is also an important step that requires a lot of courage to take. This year, 30 livers and 35 kidneys were transplanted at the UKL thanks to such decisions. We would like to thank you for this on behalf of our patients."

"Saxony stands for cutting-edge medicine and the transplant centre at Leipzig University Hospital is an important part of this," emphasised Minister President Michael Kretschmer. "The 30-year anniversary of the programme is impressive testimony to how countless lives have been saved here through science, research and the outstanding performance of the medical team. But even the best doctors and nurses can only help if there are enough transplant organs. That is why those people who decide to donate their organs also deserve our greatest appreciation. Solidarity remains the key to the chance of a new life. The number of people in need of organs continues to rise. Only if the population is more willing to donate will it be possible to provide them with an organ transplant in a timely manner."

Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow added: "I congratulate Leipzig University Medicine on the impressive progress made in transplant medicine over the past 30 years. First-class physicians and an outstanding research infrastructure in the network of the University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine at Leipzig University have made this development possible. I would like to thank everyone involved for their tireless efforts. It shows once again that our investments in university medicine over the past few years have been correct and important."

"The founding of the transplant centre in 1993 was a decisive step towards being able to help patients with liver or kidney organ failure in Saxony," emphasised Prof. Daniel Seehofer, Head of the Transplant Centre at Leipzig University Hospital. "Since then, more than 2500 patients, children and adults, have received a new kidney, a new liver or a new pancreas, giving them the chance of a new life. Some of them are also present today so that you can all witness the extraordinary successes of transplant medicine. For example, both the first kidney transplant patient in Leipzig and the first liver transplant patient are enjoying excellent health 30 years later.

We have achieved a lot in the last 30 years and have been able to bring back a lot of hope and quality of life. Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to continue to help all those who are dependent on an organ transplant in the future. Every support, every decision helps us - everyone must start with themselves, bearing in mind that each of us may be dependent on a donor organ at some point …. We continue to ensure that they are in good hands at Leipzig University Medicine, but without organ donors we can only do so much. Organ transplantation therefore remains a joint task, yesterday, today and tomorrow."

Press release of the "Leipzig University Hospital" from 25 September 2023