UW-Madison beat its own record for organ transplants in 2001.

According to the University’s year-end report, 506 organ transplants were performed in 2001.

The UW Hospital and Clinics Transplant Program is the second largest in the nation, behind UCLA, and has the best overall patient outcomes for transplants of any major hospital in the country.

“We are extremely pleased with this year’s high numbers,” said Hans Sollinger, chair of transplantation. “But we’re also happy that our results, or patient outcomes, continue to be so good.”

The data covers kidney, kidney-pancreas, pancreas, liver, lung and heart transplants, including live-donor transplants.

Patient outcomes are generally measured by whether an organ transplanted into the patient is still functioning for a certain period of time (usually one year) after transplant.

“Wisconsinites continue to donate organs at a rate among the highest in the nation and, for that, we are grateful.” Sollinger said.

However, he said, the need for organs remains higher than ever.