Transplantation: The Most Transformative Therapy in Medicine

- with Drs. Pedro Catarino and Dominick Megna  @cedarssinai

What is it like to care for patients with end-stage heart and lung disease - and then watch them get a second chance at life?

In this episode of Transplant Talks, we sit down with Dr. Pedro Catarino, Director of Aortic Surgery  at Cedars-Sinai, and Dr. Dominick Megna, Surgical Director of Lung Transplantation.

We discuss what drew them to transplant surgery, the unique culture and camaraderie of transplant teams, and why many consider transplantation to be among the most rewarding fields in medicine. Drs. Catarino and Megna share their perspectives on caring for patients before and after transplant, pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and defining success not only by survival, but by quality of life.

We also explore advances in donor lung preservation, ex-vivo lung perfusion, minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery, and Cedars-Sinai's pioneering work transplanting patients with severe COVID-related lung failure.

Finally, we discuss the future of transplantation, including new approaches to managing the immune system, and reflect on the extraordinary generosity of organ donors and their families, whose gifts make every transplant possible.

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/provider/dominick-megna-308059.html

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/provider/pedro-catarino-915128.html

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/programs/lung/specialties/transplant.html

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/programs/heart/specialties/transplant.html

0:00 Introduction

2:08 What attracted you into this field?