By
Associated Press
.
Published: Thu, July 17, 2008 - 7:24 am
Last Updated: Thu, July 17, 2008 - 7:29 am
CLEVELAND (AP) - Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic have pioneereda new form of kidney surgery that they hope will boost the number
of donors.
It involves a single incision in the bellybutton which reduces
the recovery time for the donor and leaves almost no scar.
They've successfully performed the procedure 10 times so far and
plan an 11th operation today.
Preliminary data shows donors can go back to work in just 17
days compared to the usual 51. And they're fully recovered in just
one month, instead of three.
One doctor says the procedure needs more study to prove it has a
benefit other than cosmetic. But 36-year-old Chanda Calentine of
New York City is ready to go today. She's donating a kidney to her
39-year-old uncle, Scott Bolender. He's had to undergo lifesaving
dialysis treatments since 2005 and hasn't been able to work.
Calentine says she'd be glad to help, even if it did mean a
scar, noting she's already bought a one-piece bathing suit.
On the Net:
Cleveland Clinic: http://my.clevelandclinic.org
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network:
http://www.optn.org
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Caught On Tape: Man Beats Woman
Those who Recommended this also liked:
Email to a Friend 
Printer Friendly 
“Bellybutton”? I don’t think I have one of those. I did however develop a navel where my umbilical cord used to be!