Pittsburgh Surgeons Planning Transplant Mission to Dominican Republic

Surgeons from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center are hoping to travel to the Dominican Republic next month to perform life-saving living-donor liver transplants on two infants.

But while the medical team is set to fly to Santo Domingo for the surgeries on Nov. 11th and 12th, the trip is contingent on donation prior to that date of a quarter of a million dollars of medical equipment currently lacking at the Plaza de la Salud hospital.

Dr. Victor Garrido, a Dominican native and a Pittsburgh transplant surgeon, met some of the seven children being treated at Plaza de la Salud who are in need of liver transplants during a trip to Santo Domingo a year ago.

"The first intention was to bring the children here, but they are not U.S. citizens, plus the cost of transplants [here] is very high -- $250,000 and $300,000 each, without complications," said Garrido. "So, the idea of performing this transplant on the island came up."

Pittsburgh doctors and nurses who will travel to Santo Domingo on the humanitarian mission will cover their own transportation and lodging costs, and the Dominican government will cover the cost of medicines and follow-up.

Meanwhile, Garrido, who serves as the Dominican Republic's honorary consul in Pittsburgh, is asking foundations and corporations to donate the equipment which would then remain at Plaza de la Salud for use on future humanitarian missions.

More information about donating equipment can be obtained by calling 412-531-3447.

Other sources: Pittsburgh