Dr. Kaufman’s groundbreaking work with phrenic nerve surgery in pediatric cases to be featured at the prestigious annual congress Newswise — NEPTUNE, NJ – JULY 24, 2012 – Dr. Matthew Kaufman of the Center for Treatment of Paralysis and Reconstructive Nerve Surgery at Jersey Shore University Medical Center has been selected to speak at the European Respiratory Society’s (ERS) annual congress, taking place from September 1st – 5th, 2012 in Vienna, Austria. Dr. Kaufman’s abstract, entitled “The Role of Nerve Transplantation in the Management of Symptomatic Diaphragm Paralysis,” has been selected as part of an oral presentation focusing on novelties in the clinical management of thoracic diseases, from diaphragm to pleura. Dr. Kaufman’s address will take place on Monday, September 3rd, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

According to the ERS, recently released research confirms that pediatric respiratory diseases have changed, and conditions that were once rare in adults are becoming more and more common. The European Respiratory Society (ERS) is a broad-based professional organization, with some 10,000 members in over 100 countries, covering basic science and clinical medicine. This year, the European Respiratory Society Vienna Congress will focus on the new challenges clinicians are presented with in the field of pediatrics and asthma in an effort to advance knowledge of pediatric respiratory health.

Dr. Kaufman, whose pioneering work in surgical solutions for diaphragm paralysis draws patients from around the world, has performed over 45 phrenic nerve procedures since 2007. The phrenic nerve controls function of the diaphragm muscle - the primary muscle involved in breathing. Injuries to the phrenic nerve cause paralysis to one or both sides of the diaphragm, resulting in some degree of breathing difficulty. In its mildest form, phrenic nerve injury will cause shortness of breath with exertion, whereas more severe injuries can result in the need for oxygen therapy or even a respirator. Dr. Kaufman is the only physician on record in the world to offer this groundbreaking surgical treatment.

About the Center for Treatment of Paralysis and Reconstructive Nerve Surgery:Located at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey, the Center for Treatment of Paralysis and Reconstructive Nerve Surgery is one of the first comprehensive centers of its kind, uniquely combining advanced surgical treatments for paralysis and nerve damage, with rehabilitation, continuum of care and research. The center’s world renowned specialists, including Andrew Elkwood, M.D., Michael Rose, M.D., Matthew Kaufman, M.D., Tushar Patel, M.D., Russell Ashinoff M.D., are dedicated to providing innovative surgical treatment and restoring hope to those affected by paralysis and nerve injury.

About Jersey Shore University Medical Center:Jersey Shore University Medical Center, a member of the Meridian Health family, is a not-for-profit teaching hospital and home to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital – the first children’s hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Jersey Shore is the regional provider of cardiac surgery, a program which has been ranked among the best in the Northeast, and is home to the only trauma center and stroke rescue center in the region. Jersey Shore University Medical Center specializes in cardiovascular care, orthopedics and rehabilitation, cancer care, neuroscience, and women’s specialty services. For more information on Jersey Shore University Medical Center call 1-800-DOCTORS, or visit www.JerseyShoreUniversityMedicalCenter.com.