Several transplant programs in the United States performed so many liver-kidney transplants, many leading doctors and organizations are suggesting the programs be reviewed to find out if recipients truly needed both organs. The programs in question gave more than 15 percent of liver recipients a kidney at the same time, although 95 percent of liver recipients with short-term kidney failure recover kidney function after receiving a liver.
 
Physicians and organizations are concerned because people who regain kidney function are subjected to an unneeded surgery and patients on the kidney waiting list are deprived of an organ.
 
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is expected to discuss this issue at its Liver & Intestinal Organ Transplantation committee meeting this month.

This article originally appeared in the July 2008 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.