4 kidneys swapped in bellybutton surgery

Posted: 8:06 pm Tue, November 10, 2009
By Associated Press

University of Maryland Medical Center surgeons have transplanted four kidneys after removing them through donors’ belly buttons.

The patients and surgeon Matthew Cooper announced the procedure Tuesday morning, a week after the surgeries were completed.

The kidney swap — accomplished with a small, single cut through a belly button — originated with a Westborough, Mass. man inspired by a friend’s death from renal failure in 2008.

Edward Behn wanted to donate a kidney after losing the friend, former roommate and best man. So the 59-year-old contacted the medical center and agreed to be part of a kidney exchange.

Ten-year-old Sean Menard of Catonsville, 64-year-old Carl Lichtman of Lake Worth, Fla., an anonymous man and 74-year-old Bob Loudermilk of Virginia Beach, Va. received kidneys.