St. Luke's joins Dr. John Goss in celebration of his 1,000th liver transplantation procedure

St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (St. Luke's) joins John Goss, M.D., in celebrating his milestone as he recently performed his 1,000^th liver transplantation procedure. The largest liver transplant program in Houston's world-renowned Texas Medical Center, St. Luke's performs approximately 75 liver transplants annually. Additionally, St. Luke's liver transplant survival rate is the highest in the nation, with a one-year adult patient survival rate of 96.5 percent compared to the national expected survival rate of 89.38 percent.

“I thank Dr. Goss for his unrelenting support and dedication in providing the best possible health care for our Nation's heroes.”

Dr. Goss's clinical interests lie in areas of adult and pediatric liver diseases. Dr. Goss performed the first pediatric split livers and adult living donor operations in the Houston area. Currently, he serves as the director of liver transplant programs at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital and the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Administration Medical Center.

"This professional accomplishment is a testament to Dr. Goss' commitment and dedication to the field of liver transplant and we join him in this milestone," says Rise J. Stribling, M.D., medical director of St. Luke's Liver Transplant Program. "I'm extremely proud of the St. Luke's transplant leadership team. Each practitioner exemplifies professionalism and vast expertise, both of which are hallmarks of a successful transplant program."

"The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center's program for the treatment of liver disease in the Veteran population is among the most advanced in the country. Dr. John Goss' unique surgical talents, his team at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, and the outstanding liver transplant program he established here have all played a fundamental role in its success," said David H. Berger, M.D., M.H.C.M., Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Operative Care Line executive. "I thank Dr. Goss for his unrelenting support and dedication in providing the best possible health care for our Nation's heroes."

The liver transplant team at St. Luke's includes six hepatologists - each certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, gastroenterology and hepatology and liver transplantation. Their multidisciplinary approach is comprehensive, collaborative and personal - all critical elements in striving for the best possible outcomes and the highest quality of life for patients. St. Luke's liver transplant patients typically benefit from the shortest possible hospital stay and low complication and re-transplantation rates, which are key indicators of a program's success. In addition, the team's rate of successful transplantation and low frequency of re-transplantation exceeds the national averages.

Liver failure may result from health issues, such as hepatitis B and C, autoimmune hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, cryptogenic cirrohosis, primary sclerosing choalangitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, Wilson's disease, primary hemochromatosis, non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), Budd-Chiari Syndrome, acute liver failure and metabolic disease.