More than 470,000 Americans are being treated for kidney failure (or end stage renal disease) and require kidney dialysis or transplantation to live, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Of these, 336,000 are dialysis patients, including fifty-five year-old Jerry Gibson of Florence.

Jerry was diagnosed with kidney cancer on December 1, 2005. He said it is a very rare form of the disease, in which the cancer spread from one kidney to the other. Shortly after his diagnosis, Jerry underwent surgery to have both of his kidneys removed.

The most common treatment for patients who have had their kidneys removed is hemodialysis. In hemodialysis, an artificial kidney (hemodialyzer) is used to remove waste, extra chemicals and fluid from the blood. To get the patient’s blood into the artificial kidney, a surgeon has to create an access into the patient’s blood vessels.

Jerry’s Nephrologist, Dr. John Pittard of Pee Dee Nephrology, referred him to Dr. Thomas G. Wilson, a General Surgeon with Pee Dee Surgical Group.

“The best access for hemodialysis patients is a vein in the forearm that is enlarged by creating a fistula,” said Dr. Wilson. “An arterial venous fistula is a ‘connection’ surgically created by joining a vein and an artery that allows blood from the artery to flow into the vein. The higher blood pressure in the artery forces blood into the vein and safely enlarges the vein, creating a good site for the large gauge needles used in dialysis. Over time, the fistula matures even more and becomes a thicker structure allowing for a higher rate of blood flow, which is also less likely to clot.”

Jerry’s fistula surgery was performed at McLeod Medical Center Darlington in late February of 2006. Once the fistula matured, the dialysis center was able to start using it in June of 2006. Dr. Wilson is very happy with the results of Jerry’s fistula. “You would like to see all fistulas develop like his, but not everyone is as healthy as Jerry.”

“I enjoyed being cared for by Dr. Wilson,” said Jerry. “He is easy to talk to and has a super attitude.” Jerry was also impressed with McLeod Medical Center Darlington. He said it was very clean, the staff was friendly and he was pleased with the personal attention he received. At McLeod Medical Center Darlington, Dr. Wilson performs a full range of dialysis-related surgical procedures including fistulas, grafts, catheter placements, and percutaneous clot removal procedures or declots.

“Creating fistulas or ‘lifelines’ is a part of vascular surgery that I enjoy,” said Dr. Wilson. “There is a tremendous need in this area and McLeod Medical Center Darlington is the perfect place to perform these outpatient procedures. I also work daily with a great crew here, who always put the patients at ease and make sure their experience is top notch.”

Dr. Wilson has cared for patients in Darlington and Florence for 24 years. His goal is to perform each fistula patient’s surgery within a week. In addition to McLeod Darlington, Dr. Wilson also performs these procedures at McLeod Regional Medical Center. In 2006, he performed approximately 100 fistula surgeries. Barbara Weatherford, RN, the Clinical Manager of the Kingstree Dialysis Center, said, “I personally commend Dr. Wilson for the outstanding job he is doing in our area with arterial venous fistula creations and graft placements. His surgical expertise along with his timely consults and patient follow up are unsurpassed. Dr. Wilson is a true patient advocate, and we are proud of all of his hard work and dedication to patients.”

Retired from DuPont where he had worked for 30 years, Jerry is currently coping with a reoccurrence of the cancer right below his windpipe, but it hasn’t grown or spread based on his latest scans. While Jerry’s brother is willing to donate a kidney, the reoccurrence of the cancer means Jerry is not eligible to undergo a transplant. He said his oncologist is concerned that if he receives a transplant the anti-rejection drugs will lower his immunity and could cause the cancer to return. The anti-rejection drugs would also make it more difficult to fight a reoccurrence of cancer.

Jerry continues to hope that one day he can receive a transplant, “But God has the final say so and He works miracles – that’s my attitude,” he added.