Henry Ford Hospital Performs First Intestine Transplant in Michigan

Detroit, MI – The first intestine (bowel) transplant in Michigan was performed on a 50-year-old patient from Port Austin by physicians at Henry Ford Hospital.

The 11-hour surgery was performed on August 21 and 22. The composite multivisceral transplant procedure included transplant of the patient’s small bowel, stomach and pancreas.

Only a few centers in the United States offer intestine transplants and Henry Ford is the only one in Michigan with a program.

The patient, Brent Patterson, who suffered from short bowel syndrome as well as insulin-dependent diabetes, had been waiting for a transplant since April.

Patterson previously had six bowel procedures in a year to treat his intestines, damaged from Crohn’s disease and poor blood supply, and was no longer able to absorb the nutrients his body needed.

“I got so tired, my immune system was low and I would have to eat nonstop just to get enough nutrients,” says Patterson.

Every night by 8 p.m., Patterson had to hook himself up intravenously for fluids to prevent dehydration. He was constantly at high risk for intravenous infection and multiple hospital admissions. He was also on an insulin pump for his diabetes. Five years earlier, he had a kidney transplant; his wife, Elizabeth, donated her kidney.

Since his intestine transplant, he is off of intravenous nutrition and on a combination of tube feedings and his own nutritional intake by mouth.

“I can’t believe it – it is a whole new world,” says Patterson. “I am not even a diabetic anymore.”

The Henry Ford transplant surgical team included Marwan Kazimi, M.D., director, Small Bowel and Multivisceral Program, and Marwan Abouljoud, M.D., director, Henry Ford Transplant Institute

Dr. Kazimi explains that Patterson should have very few physical limitations: He will have to be careful with his dietary choices, especially for first few months, and make sure he stays well hydrated. Risk of rejection or infection with certain viruses is highest in first few months, and he will be monitored closely for these.

“It is our hope that he will return to fully functional status, including work and hobbies, if he so desires, and that he will never need intravenous nutrition or insulin again,” says Dr. Kazimi.

The electrician/journeyman loves to rebuild race motors and is looking forward to getting back to work on his ’74 red Nova and spending time with his wife and son.

“While still rare, intestine transplant is much more successful than in the past, partly due to improvements in technique and patient selection, and partly due to refinements in our understanding of immunosuppression and opportunistic infections,” says Dr. Kazimi. “It is now a viable option, and anyone with short gut syndrome, chronic intravenous nutrition or fluid needs, or certain gastrointestinal disorders such as poor motility may be a candidate.”

“It is an option many weren’t even aware of because it wasn’t available in Michigan until now,” says Dr. Kazimi.

Dr. Kazimi explains patients with intestinal failure are considered candidates for transplant when other treatments, such as parenteral nutrition (intravenous replacement of nutrients) are unsuccessful. He says the most common causes of intestinal failure are short bowel syndrome that results from extensive bowel surgeries due to inflammatory bowel diseases, a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, blood clots in the major veins that lead to the intestine, or major abdominal trauma.

Many people with short bowel syndrome, like Patterson, are dependent on total parenteral nutrition to supply their daily nutrition. Administered in the hospital or at home, intravenous nutrition usually requires a central venous catheter, which can lead to chronic infection. Over time, the intravenous nutrition solution also carries risk of complications such as venous thrombosis and liver conditions like hepatotoxicity, steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis.

There are three types of intestine transplants including:

• Isolated Intestine Transplant for patients with short bowel syndrome and no liver disease.
• Combined Liver-Intestine Transplant for patients with short bowel syndrome and irreversible intravenous nutrition-induced liver disease.
• Composite Multivisceral Transplant for patients with short bowel syndrome requiring intestine, stomach, pancreas and/or liver transplantation; patients with portomesenteric thrombosis and liver disease; or patients with neuroendocrine tumors metastatic to the liver.

“Implementation of new techniques and technology requires several levels of preparation of such a program for patient safety and better outcomes,” says Dr. Marwan Abouljoud, director of Henry Ford Transplant Institute, which has had a liver transplant program since 1989.

“The field of transplantation has been progressing rapidly with many technical innovations that help people in need of such new procedures.”

Nationally, 180 intestine transplants were performed last year in the U.S. and there are currently 249 people waiting for a transplant, according to the Gift of Life Michigan. The first successful intestine transplant was performed in 1987 in Kiel, Germany.

Three other patients in Michigan are waiting for intestine transplants at Henry Ford.

Henry Ford Offers Free Hearing Tests in May

Detroit, MI – Henry Ford Hospital’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery – Division of Audiology is hosting two days of free events in May, including hearing screenings, to raise awareness about the importance of hearing health and the challenges of living with hearing loss.

Thursday, May 13: 9 – 10:30 a.m. Living with Hearing Loss Seminar
Presented by hearing loss advocate and Henry Ford hearing aid technician Liz Kobylak, this talk will focus on the everyday challenges of living with hearing loss and the devices that can assist in better hearing.

• 12:30 – 2 p.m. Free Hearing Screenings

Friday, May 14: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Free Hearing Screenings; 2:30 – 4 p.m. Living with Hearing Loss Seminar
Presented by hearing loss advocate and Henry Ford hearing aid technician Liz Kobylak, this talk will focus on the everyday challenges of living with hearing loss and the devices that can assist in better hearing.

All of the events will be held at Henry Ford Hospital in private dining room 2 near the hospital cafeteria. Henry Ford Hospital is located at 2799 W. Grand Blvd. in Detroit.

To register for the free events, visit www.henryford.com/Classes or call 1-800-HENRYFORD.

About Hearing Loss
Hearing loss affects more than 36 million Americans. While most are the result of the normal aging process, the number of people younger than 65 with hearing loss is growing due in part to the popularity of MP3 players and earbuds.

Hearing loss can affect people of all ages. According the American Academy of Audiology, the most common causes of hearing loss are genetic predispositions, ear diseases, noise exposure (music, industrial and military), ototoxic medicines and head trauma.

Hearing loss can make it difficult to hear a conversation in a noisy environment such as a restaurant, or cause constant ringing or pain in the ears.

Although most hearing loss is permanent, an audiologist can determine the best treatment to improve hearing, including hearing aids, assistive listening devices and hearing rehabilitation.

To learn more about the services and treatments offered at Henry Ford’s Division of Audiology, visit www.henryford.com.

Henry Ford Hospital Opens Sports Concussion Clinic

Detroit, MI – Henry Ford Hospital has launched a weekly sports concussion clinic for student athletes who have recently experienced a concussion.

The Henry Ford Sports Concussion Clinic team includes a primary care sports medicine specialist, a neuropsychologist and a certified athletic trainer, who together determine the proper treatment plan for young athletes who have a concussion from a sports-related spine or brain injury.

“The specialized clinic is designed specifically for athletes who may have gotten a concussion while playing sports, regardless of their level of competition,” says Kenneth Podell, Ph.D., director, Division of Neuropsychology, and co-director of the clinic.

“Our goal is to return these athletes to competition as quickly and safely as possible,” adds Dr. Podell, consulting neuropsychologist to The Detroit Lions, Red Wings and Tigers and for Major League Baseball.

Concussions can be caused by a fall, a bump or blow to the head or body during contact sports and can happen even if the athlete does not lose consciousness. Nearly 3.8 million sports- and recreational-related concussions occur each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The team approach allows the athlete to be evaluated and receive an individual treatment plan all in one convenient visit. The team utilizes computer technology to make a precise diagnosis of concussions, which in turn leads to better treatment plans for athletes and safe return to their sport.

The technology allows physicians to analyze the patient’s memory, reaction time, symptoms and other crucial brain functions in order to determine how the brain has been affected by concussion.

“A treatment plan is then created that lays out a step-by-step approach to that ultimate goal of having the athlete safely return to play,” says Brett Martin, D.O., primary care sports medicine specialist and co-director of the clinic. “Returning to play too early can put the athlete at high risk for long-term problems should a secondary injury occur.”

Treatment plans may include neurological consultation, neuro-imaging, physical therapy and/or medications, including a customized home program of exercises or stretches as well as follow-up or return-to-play instructions.

The Henry Ford Sports Concussion Clinic will be held from 3 – 5 p.m. every Tuesday, beginning April 27, at the William Clay Ford Center for Athletic Medicine, 6526 Second Avenue in Detroit.

To make an appointment for the comprehensive clinic or an appointment with an individual physician on another day, time or location, call (313) 972-4216.

Henry Ford Hospital Study Shows Link Between Vitamin D, Skin Cancer

Detroit, MI – A Henry Ford Hospital study has shown a link between Vitamin D levels and basal cell carcinoma, a finding that could lead researchers to better understand the development of the most common form of skin cancer.

In a small study, researchers at Henry Ford and Wayne State University found elevated levels of Vitamin D enzymes and proteins in cancerous tissue taken from 10 patients compared to normal skin tissue taken from them.

Previous studies have linked Vitamin D deficiency with certain cancers but this is believed to be the first time researchers looked at Vitamin D and basal cell carcinoma.

This finding may help us in future research to determine whether vitamin D plays a causative or reactive role in the development and progression of skin cancer, says Iltefat Hamzavi, M.D., senior staff physician in Henry Ford’s Department of Dermatology and the study’s lead author.

The study will be presented at the Photomedicine Society’s annual meeting in Miami, one day before the American Academy of Dermatology’s annual meeting.

Basal cell carcinoma, which affects about 1 million Americans a year, is the most common form of skin cancer. This cancer forms in the basal cells of the deepest layer of the skin. Mohs micrographic surgery is one of the most effective treatments for removing skin cancer.

The 10 patients enrolled in the study were diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma and ranged in age from 43 to 83. All had biopsies taken of cancerous tissue and surrounding normal skin tissue. Researchers found a 10-fold increase in Vitamin D enzyme levels and a two-fold increase in Vitamin D protein levels. The enzymes and proteins help regulate levels of Vitamin D in the skin. Two genes that play a role in DNA and tumor repair also had elevated levels of Vitamin D in cancerous tissue compared to normal tissue.

The study was funded by the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, Wayne State University and Henry Ford Hospital.

Skin Transplant Offers New Hope to Vitiligo Patients

Detroit, MI - In the first study of its kind in the United States, Henry Ford Hospital showed that skin transplant surgery is safe and effective for treating vitiligo.

Henry Ford researchers followed 23 patients for up to six months after surgery and found that the treated area regained on average 52 percent of its natural skin color. In eight patients with a specific type of vitiligo, the treated area regained on average 74 percent of its natural skin color.

The surgery involves using skin cells taken from normally-pigmented areas of the body and transferring them to the damaged area of skin. It is performed under local anesthesia.

This surgery offers hope to vitiligo patients, says Iltefat Hamzavi, M.D. a senior staff physician in Henry Ford’s Department of Dermatology and the study’s senior author and principal investigator. The results achieved in our study were of obvious significance to our patients.”

The study will be presented Tuesday, March 9 at the 68th annual American Academy of Dermatology meeting in Miami.

While the initial results are preliminary and the procedure is still investigational, Dr. Hamzavi says Henry Ford hopes to offer the surgery as part of its treatment portfolio this fall. He says for some patients the surgery is more effective than standard treatments like light therapy and topical medications.

Patients of color and those with vitiligo on one side of the body and in one area of the body may benefit most from this procedure, Dr. Hamzavi says.

Vitiligo is a skin disease that causes the skin to lose color and develop white patches that vary in size and location. It affects about 1 in every 200 people in the United States, and is more noticeable in people with darker skin.

Vitiligo develops when cells called melanocytes are killed by the body’s immune system, causing the area of skin to turn white because the cells no longer make pigment. While there is no cure, vitiligo can be treated and managed with light therapy, creams and topical medications.

The surgery is known as melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation or MKTP, and is performed in Europe, Asia and Middle East. It was performed at Henry Ford using the same technique developed by MKTP pioneer Sanjeev Mulekar, M.D., of the National Vitiligo Center in Saudi Arabia. Henry Ford is the first to perform MKTP in North America.

In Henry Ford’s study, 32 patients (18 male, 14 female) underwent surgery and ranged in age from 18 to 60. A total of 40 MKTP procedures were performed and researchers analyzed the outcomes of 29 of them. A procedure lasted 30 minutes to two hours and patients returned home the same day.

Of the 32 surgery patients, 23 were followed for up to six months after surgery. Eighteen patients received one treatment, four patients received two and one patient received three. The ethnicity of patients was Caucasian, South Asian, African American and Hispanic.

During MKTP, melanocyte cells, which produce pigment in the skin, hair and eyes, are harvested from an area of healthy skin and separated to make a skin cell mixture. This mixture then is applied to the treatment area and covered with a specially developed adhesive biologic dressing.

Treated areas included the hands, arms, legs, feet, face and stomach. The average size of the treated area during each procedure covered an area of 46 cm2, or roughly the size of a credit card.

The study was a collaboration with the National Center for Vitiligo, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and funded by the Shahani Foundation based in Michigan.

Henry Ford Offers Free Coaches Clinic for Understanding Injuries

Detroit, MI - Henry Ford Hospital’s Center for Athletic Medicine is offering a free clinic for coaches to better understand common sports injuries.

The clinic is designed for coaches to learn more about ankle and knee injuries, as well as sports concussions.

Henry Ford sports medicine physicians will help educate coaches on players injuries and teach them preventive exercises. They will also learn taping techniques to help prevent injuries.

The clinic will be held on Saturday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Henry Ford Center for Athletic Medicine, 6525 2nd Street, on the corner of West Grand Boulevard, across from the Fisher Building, in Detroit.

Also, coaches in need of CPR recertification will have the opportunity to participate in a CPR Recertification session immediately following the Coaches Clinic from 1 – 3 p.m.
The cost for the recertification is $40, lunch will not be included. For more information or to register, call (313) 972-4167.

Henry Ford Center for Athletic Medicine Hosts Between-Season Bootcamp

Detroit, MI - Henry Ford Hospitals Center for Athletic Medicine is offering a bootcamp for athletes of all sports to help them prepare for the upcoming spring season.

The class is designed to improve athletic performance and decrease the risk of injury. Henry Ford certified athletic trainers and performance enhancement specialists take participants through a series of exercises in a circuit training format. The 60-minute classes consist of a dynamic warm-up, two times around the circuit and a cool-down session.

These functional exercises will improve core power, strength, speed and stability.

The four-day class will be held 6 – 7 p.m., March 8, 9, 11 and 12 at University of Michigan Dearborn Fieldhouse, 4901 Evergreen Road, in Dearborn. The cost to participate is $50.

Henry Ford Hospital Hosts Free Vision Loss Conference

Detroit – A free conference on how to live life to the fullest despite vision loss will be held 8 a.m. – noon, Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Schoolcraft College VisTaTech Center in Livonia. The conference is sponsored by Henry Ford Hospital’s Department of Ophthalmology.

The conference will feature a presentation by Lylas Mogk, M.D., co-author of “Macular Degeneration: The Complete Guide to Saving and Maximizing Your Sight, “who will discuss the causes, patterns and impact of vision loss.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than three million people in the United States do not have normal vision, even with the help of eyeglasses or corrective lenses, and one million people are legally blind. Impairment may be caused by a number of eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, trauma, inherited eye conditions and cataracts.

The conference, Living Fully with Vision Loss, will provide information, strategies and resources to help those with vision loss, no matter what the cause, lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Henry Ford physicians and experts will discuss maximizing independence, devices for daily activities, dealing with lighting and glare, reading and writing, cooking and crafts, shopping and socializing, driving and transportation, anxiety and depression, and the impact of vision loss on families.

Other presentations will include:
• Wise Eyes: Learning to Use the Vision You Have
• Top Tips for Living Fully with Vision Loss: covers reading, driving and adapting your environment
• A panel of patients who are living well with their vision loss will share their experiences.

The Schoolcraft College VisTaTech Center is located at 18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 28. A continental breakfast will be provided.

To register or for more information, call 1-800-363-7575.

Henry Ford Hospital Offers Free Back Pain Seminar

Detroit – MI – Henry Ford Hospital’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is offering a free seminar on back pain to answer questions about prevention and treatment.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 80 percent of all people in the United States will have back pain at some point their lives, and it is the most common physical condition for which people visit their doctors.

Fred Nelson, M.D., orthopaedic specialist, will share information about the types and causes of back pain and tips on prevention and easing symptoms, 10:30 -11:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Warren Racquetball Club, 29901 Civic Center Boulevard South in Warren.

Registration is not required. Walk-ins are welcome. Light refreshments provided.

For more information, call (313) 874-3508.