Atlanta Surgeons Perform Rare Joint Liver and Heart Transplant
ATLANTA, Ga. — Surgeons at Piedmont Atlanta have completed a rare and complex operation involving the transplant of both a heart and liver into the same patient, marking a significant milestone in Georgia’s medical history.
First in a Decade for Georgia
Hospital officials confirmed the procedure was the first joint liver-heart transplant in Georgia in 10 years, and only the second adult case ever performed in the state. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), only about 50 such transplants have ever been conducted in the Southeast.
Collaboration Between Two Institutes
The operation required the combined expertise of surgeons from the Piedmont Transplant Institute and the Piedmont Heart Institute. Dr. Jonathan Hundley, surgical director of Piedmont’s liver transplant program, said the effort underscored the importance of collaboration in complex cases.
“High-quality care for patients in both end-stage liver and heart failure must be multidisciplinary,” Hundley explained. “With the deep expertise of both our abdominal and heart transplant teams, we are in the position at Piedmont to join forces for these patients and perform this complex operation”.
Why Joint Transplants Matter
Doctors say liver and heart diseases often compound one another, creating a cycle where one failing organ cannot withstand surgery on the other. By performing a joint transplant, patients gain a stronger chance of long-term survival. Piedmont also conducts kidney-heart, kidney-liver, and kidney-pancreas transplants for patients with overlapping organ failure.
Rising Demand for Transplants
Standalone procedures are increasing at Piedmont as well. Between fiscal years 2023 and 2024, liver transplants rose 33%, while heart transplants surged 500% between 2022 and 2023.
National Recognition
The achievement comes as U.S. News & World Report ranked Piedmont Heart Institute as the best hospital in Georgia for cardiology, heart, and vascular surgery in its 2025–2026 ratings.
The patient’s identity and recovery details have not yet been released, but hospital officials emphasized the case highlights both the challenges and promise of advanced transplant medicine.
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