Transplantation Program

Small Bowel Transplantation

The Small Bowel Transplant Program at UI Health is at the forefront of establishing world-class care for patients with intestinal failure and intestinal transplant care.

Our program optimizes existing clinical strategies, while developing new approaches through clinical and scientific research. Our approach treats the patient throughout their health journey, including comprehensive pre and post-operative care combining medical, surgical, lifestyle, and nutritional strategies at each stage of their care.

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Making Living-Donor Transplant Possible

UI Health is the only center in the U.S. to offer living-donor small bowel transplantation. In 2017, Dr. Enrico Benedetti performed a rare living-donor small bowel transplant between identical twins Derrick (center) and Patrick Noel.

Why Choose Us

Medicare-certified Intestinal Transplant Program
We are the only Medicare-certified Intestinal Transplant Program in Illinois. This certification gives our program the ability to care for and transplant patients with Medicare coverage.

Experience
Our experience in the medical management of patients is combined with surgical/transplant management, resulting in optimal care and enhanced outcomes. UI Health doctors and researchers pioneered some of the first major organ transplants in Illinois and the world. Dr. Enrico Benedetti performed the first adult living-donor bowel transplant in Illinois in 1998.

Living Donor Transplantation
UI Health is the only center in the country to offer living-donor small bowel transplantation. Living-donor small intestine transplants - in which a portion of the organ is taken from a compatible donor.

Recognized Globally
UI Health is recognized as one of the most prominent research institutions for intestinal failure and trans-plantation in the world.

Unique Rehabilitation Program
We offer a unique physical rehabilitation program that is changing the face of transplantation and able to prepare patients to thrive including managing daily living activities and employment.

Coordinated Care

At UI Health, patients are provided with a coordinated and seamless individualized plan by a team of gastroenterologists, surgeons, nurses, and dietitians to better define the role and timing of intestinal transplantation due to intestinal failure. Parenteral nutrition (PN) -dependent, high-risk patients are closely monitored for the need for intestinal transplantation before the situation becomes irreversible due to severe intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) or other life-threatening PN-associated complications.

Our surgeons are experienced in a full array of intestinal transplant and non-transplant procedures. The team is comprised of international leaders in dietary, medical, and surgical management of patients with intestinal failure

Expert Team

Our experienced Small Bowel Transplant team are skilled in a full array of intestinal transplant and non-transplant procedures. Comprised of international leaders in dietary, medical, and surgical management of patients with intestinal failure.