LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Baptist Health is the first transplant center in Arkansas to utilize the SherpaPak® Cardiac Transport System (CTS) from Paragonix Technologies.
The SherpaPak® CTS provides a safe and effective way for hearts to be preserved during the transplant process, marking the healing ministry’s commitment to be a leader in heart health services.
Replacing consumer-grade cooler and ice systems that have been used historically, the SherpaPak® CTS – paired with the Paragonix app and web portal – provides constant temperature and location tracking and real-time updates to the transplant team. It delivers information critical to this complicated surgery to the team.
“Given the scarcity of donor hearts, we know the importance of doing everything we can to better preserve them during transport,” said Baptist Health Transplant Institute Program Director Dr. John Ransom. “This device allows us to preserve the heart in a more natural state – ultimately better serving the patient with improved technology.”
While it may look like a traditional cooler, the SherpaPak® device fully suspends the heart in a pressure-controlled and sterile environment. The rigid canister system is the leading FDA-cleared and CE-marked preservation device for heart transportation.
The SherpaPak® CTS provides a consistent, stable thermal environment. According to a recent report comparing post-transplant outcomes between the device and ice storage, investigators noted a one-year survival rate of 96.4 percent in patients where the Paragonix system was used, translating to an increase of 8.7 percent in one-year survival when compared to traditional ice transport.
In 2022, over 1 in 3 donor hearts in the United States were preserved and transported with the SherpaPak® CTS.
For more information about Baptist Health heart health services, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or visit Baptist-Health.com.
About Baptist Health
For more than a century, Baptist Health has delivered All Our Best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health is Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization with more than 250 points of access that include 11 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 100 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; a graduate residency program; and access to virtual care anytime, anywhere. It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit Baptist-Health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app.
About Paragonix Technologies
Paragonix Technologies creates organ transportation devices that safeguard organs during the journey between donor and recipient patients. Our devices incorporate clinically proven and medically trusted cold preservation techniques in a novel suspension system to provide unprecedented physical and thermal protection. Paragonix is a leading provider of FDA cleared and CE marked transport devices for organ preservation.