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Thursday, January 17, 2002

Rare Pediatric Kidney Transplant Successful - Lack of pediatric specialists keep teen on waiting list for years

A 14-year-old local boy has a new lease on life after undergoing the first pediatric kidney transplant in Southern Nevada since 1994 because of the lack of pediatric specialists. Physicians from University Medical Center and the University of Nevada School of Medicine successfully completed the rare pediatric procedure on Monday, and today Christopher Espineuva is on the road to recovery.

In the past, Nevada has sent its pediatric transplant cases to California. A patient can be put on a waiting list in California for as long as eight years for an available kidney. The waiting list in Nevada is shorter because of the lack of pediatric transplant specialists. Christopher was on the waiting list at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for three years to no avail, and was on the local waiting list for less than 3 months before he had a new kidney. Dr. Michael Aigbe, a pediatric nephrologist, and Dr. Gary Shen, a transplant surgeon with the medical school, coordinated their expertise, training, and speciality to bring new life to Christopher.

Christopher is in the 9th grade, but has been home schooled because of the rigorous dialysis schedule (three times a week, three hours each dialysis session). He learned he needed a transplant three years ago when his kidney stopped working. He says he was excited about the opportunity to get his life back, and grateful Dr. Aigbe and Dr. Shen agreed to take his case.

Christopher is currently in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at University Medical Center, and is expected to be here until early next week depending on his progress. The physicians who were involved with the case can be made available for interview with ample notice. Christopher, and his mother have also agreed to be interviewed.

Contact Information:
Rick Plummer , Community Relations
(702) 383-2090
Adplummer@umc.co.clark.nv.us
University Medical Center
1800 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102