Surgeons with UHealth – the University of Miami Health System – successfully performed a double lung transplant on Venezuelan-born artist José Luis Rodriguez, known as “El Puma.”
The December surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital was performed by University of Miami physicians Matthias Loebe, MD, program director for thoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support; Nicolas Brozzi, MD, UHealth heart and lung transplant surgeon; Neeraj Sinha, MD, medical director of the lung transplant program, and Yiliam Rodriguez-Blanco, MD, chief of cardiothoracic anesthesia.
The beloved singer shared his story during an Apr. 20 press conference as part of April’s “National Donate Life Month” observance.
For decades, Rodriguez has entertained adoring fans on stages worldwide and on television screens in Spanish-language soap operas. But in the early 2000s, now 75-year-old Rodriguez noticed physical changes affecting his body. His voice changed dramatically to a lower tone, and he could no longer travel to high-altitude cities such as Bogota or Mexico City.
As Rodriguez’s conditioned worsened, he went to see his primary physician in Miami, where he has lived since the 1990s. His doctor diagnosed him with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a type of lung disease that results in scarring of the lungs for an unknown reason.
As the scarring gets worse, patients have difficulty in breathing. It actually kills more Americans than breast cancer.
“Most patients with this disease, without proper treatment, don’t live past six months,” Dr. Loebe said.
“I remember my last performance on stage was in Barranquilla, Colombia, and I felt I was going to die,” Rodriguez recalled. “My heart was beating really fast, not understanding what was wrong with me.”
Fans became more concerned about his failing health as they watched him perform with an oxygen tank to help him breathe. That is when Rodriguez began looking for solutions to improve his quality of life.
Daily physical activities such as breathing, walking, tying his shoes, and taking a shower became difficult. It was a challenge to even leave the house. That was when his primary doctor referred him to Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), an affiliation between the University of Miami Health System and Jackson Health System.
There, doctors determined that Rodriguez’s lung disease had advanced to the point that his only chance of survival was a double lung transplant.
“Patients and their families need to be aware of this disease and the limited treatment options,” Dr. Loebe said. “Early referral to a lung transplant program is the only way to prolong life and explore ways to improve quality of life.”
In order to be considered a good candidate for a transplant, patients must have social support and motivation, and they must live a healthy and active lifestyle. Once a major factor, age is not the only thing considered, even for a nearly 75-year-old like Rodriguez, Dr. Sinha said.
“It was uncommon for individuals above 70 years of age to receive a lung transplant,” Dr. Sinha said. “But as surgical techniques and post-transplant care have improved, more centers accept this patient population.”
Rodriguez was placed on the national waiting list on Aug. 25, 2017.
“This was God telling me to put a stop in life and take care of my health,” Rodriguez said. “As a performer I’ve traveled for over 50 years giving my all to my fans wholeheartedly, but sometimes in life you have to put yourself first.”
Rodriguez was admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital on Dec. 16 when he received the call that a donor match was available. The surgery was performed on Dec. 17. Rodriguez was able to return home on Jan. 9.
Dr. Loebe, along with a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists, and staff, led a successful double lung transplant operation that took five hours.
“It is a blessing just to be able to breathe again,” Rodriguez said. “You can go without food or water for days, but you cannot go a minute without breathing.”
During his post-transplant recovery, Rodriguez recently celebrated his 75th birthday. Rodriguez remains focused on improving his health, body and spirit before returning to work in April 2019 where he plans to go on tour, as well as develop a documentary of his life.
“His voice is intact,” Brozzi said. “There is no medical reason why he should not have exactly the same voice he had before and be able to do with that voice exactly the same things he did before.”
Rodriguez returned to thank the doctors and nurses who cared for him on April 20 where he urged others who are experiencing issues with their lungs to seek care immediately.
“My advice to others going through something similar is that transplant is the answer,” Rodriguez said. “It’s like dying and coming back to life. It has been the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through but I overcame this with patience, faith, and hope.”
MTI is the only center in South Florida to perform every type of organ transplant. The center performed over 150 lung-related transplants since the first performed in 1996 at Jackson Memorial Hospital. According to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), our center has done over 11,000 transplants of all organ types positioning MTI to be one of the world’s leading transplant centers since its opening in 1970.
A year after transplant surgery, if both parties are willing, UNOS can facilitate a meeting between a recipient and the donor’s family. Rodriguez said he would like to meet the family to thank them in person.
