On Long Island, a kidney transplant program ranks first in two survival metrics

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Northwell Transplant Institute at Manhasset-based North Shore University attained top rankings in the nation for its adult kidney transplant program.

Data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) revealed that the institute ranked best in 90-day patient survival based on the hospital’s hazard ratio of 0.35 for the 322 transplants performed between Jan. 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023.  Its living donor transplant survival rate also ranked best, with 100% kidney function. Northwell’s overall three-year patient survival hazard ratio for all adult kidney transplants is 0.46.

SRTR provides the data under license from the Health Resources and Services Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The rankings are based on 215 hospital programs that perform adult kidney transplants nationally.

“This SRTR report reflects the outstanding care delivered at the Northwell Transplant Institute,” Dr. Nabil Dagher, vice president and director of the Northwell Transplant Institute said in a written statement. “Our entire transplant team is dedicated to helping our patients heal and get back to their best lives.”

More than 46,000 organ transplants were performed in 2023, nearly 28,000 of them kidneys, both record highs in the U.S. There were 90,000 people awaiting a kidney transplant during that period.

An analysis of the data showed that in New York State, NYU Langone Transplant Institute ranked 25th in the nation in the 90th-day patient survival metric, while New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center ranked 45th. The three-year transplant data showed that Stony Brook University Medicine ranked 17th.

Stony Brook Medicine’s Kidney Transplantation Program was started in 1979, according to its website, and is considered the oldest on Long Island. The program has performed more than 2,000 kidney transplants with a one-year graft survival success rate at more than 94%.

NYU Langone Transplant Institute, in addition to the kidney, offers heart, liver, lung, and pancreas transplantation. It also provides kidney, liver, lung and heart transplants for children through its Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital. Its Lung Transplant Center has rated top in the nation, according to SRTR.

New York-Presbyterian organ transplantation program, in addition to the kidney, includes the heart, lung, liver, intestine and pancreas.

Meanwhile, in 2023, North Shore University Hospital completed 195 adult kidney transplants.

“Getting a transplant quickly is important, but equally important is making sure the transplant lasts,” Dr. Vinay Nair, medical director of the adult kidney transplant program at the institute, said in a written statement. “Having a short time to transplant coupled with some of the best 3-year outcomes in the nation is a testament to the success of our center.”

Northwell began its adult kidney transplant program at North Shore University Hospital in 2007 and now offers transplantation services for adult heart, kidney, liver and lung. Northwell’s pediatric kidney transplant program at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park in 2017.