Department of Cardiac Surgery

Melissia Boynton speaks with a visitor a few days after her heart transplant. (photo by Kylie Avery)
May 17, 2024

A Mother’s Day to remember

Melissia Boynton got the call about 3 a.m. on Mother’s Day that her new heart was available. Immediately, her plans changed from a barbecue around the family pool to a middle-of-the-night drive to Nashville to get her new heart.

By Matt Batcheldor
Double-lung transplant patient Mike Boston and his wife, Kellie. (photo by Donn Jones)
April 8, 2024

Lung transplant patient, family glad they came to a place where ‘every single person cared’

Mike Boston was turned down by eight hospitals for a double lung transplant, which would be his second, because none believed he would survive the surgery. Finally, doctors at one medical center — VUMC — thought he might.

By Matt Batcheldor
February 2, 2024

Novel device helps extend window of time to preserve hearts donated after cardiac death

In the first such procedure, Vanderbilt University Medical Center has transplanted a DCD (donation after cardiac death) heart using XVIVO Heart Assist Transport (XHAT), a novel cold organ perfusion device.

By Matt Batcheldor
Transplant patient Connie Rankin was cleared to return home to Memphis just in time for the holidays. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
December 14, 2023

VUMC performs its first combined lung and liver transplant

Connie Rankin of Memphis, Tennessee, received Vanderbilt’s first combined lung and liver transplant, which involved dozens of specialists, including transplant teams for both organs.

By Matt Batcheldor
Nicole Hunter was the first patient to receive the novel transplant. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
September 27, 2023

VUMC performs novel reoperative lung and kidney transplant

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has performed its first combined reoperative lung and kidney transplant.

By Matt Batcheldor
April 13, 2023

Process rehabilitates donor livers for transplantation

Vanderbilt research demonstrated that injured human donor livers declined for transplant can be recovered by cross-circulation between the human liver and a xenogeneic host, or animal platform.

By Matt Batcheldor
April 6, 2023

System repairs donor lungs for transplantation

A Vanderbilt team has discovered that donor lungs rejected for transplant can be repaired using cross-circulation with a xenogeneic host.
By Matt Batcheldor
March 16, 2023

Multispecialty expertise key to heart patient’s recovery

Vanderbilt's multispecialty expertise helped a seemingly healthy 54-year-old man who needed major heart procedures get back to the gym and live a healthy life.
By Matt Batcheldor
February 23, 2023

2022 another strong year for Vanderbilt Transplant Center

By Matt Batcheldor
November 11, 2022

With each pediatric heart surgery she schedules, Alicia Kepley builds a rapport with families

By Nancy Humphrey
November 10, 2022

Study defines role of steroids in congenital heart disease surgery

Steroids are commonly given to infants during open-heart surgery to reduce inflammation, but whether the drugs significantly improve patient outcomes has not been settled — until now.
By Bill Snyder
September 29, 2022

Patient journeys from South Africa for lung transplant

Mervyn Joseph, who searched the world over for the best place to be considered for lung transplant, is thankful he found Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
By Matt Batcheldor
July 28, 2022

Patient doing well after complex vascular procedures

Marsha Eastridge had no clue she had heart problems until she was diagnosed in December 2021. Barely three weeks later, she was undergoing the first of two complex vascular procedures at Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute that would save her life.
By Matt Batcheldor
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