Organ transplantation

Organ transplantation is a medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and placed in the body of a recipient, to replace a damaged or missing organ. The donor and recipient may be at the same location, or organs may be transported from a donor site to another location. Organs and/or tissues that are transplanted within the same person's body are called autografts. Transplants that are recently performed between two subjects of the same species are called allografts. Allografts can either be from a living or cadaveric source.

History

The concept of organ transplantation has a long history, dating back to ancient times. The first successful organ transplant, performed without the aid of modern immunosuppressive medications, was a kidney transplant between identical twins in 1954. Since then, medical and technological advancements have allowed for the transplantation of many different organs, including the heart, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestine, and thymus.

Types of Organ Transplantation

There are several types of organ transplantation, including kidney transplantation, heart transplantation, lung transplantation, liver transplantation, and pancreas transplantation. Each type of transplant has its own unique set of challenges and considerations, including the availability of donor organs, the compatibility between the donor and recipient, and the recipient's overall health and ability to tolerate the transplant procedure.

Organ Donors

Organ donors can be living or deceased. Living donors can donate a kidney, part of the liver, lung, intestine, blood, or bone marrow. Deceased donors can donate kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestine, and tissues.

Organ Rejection

Organ rejection is a serious complication of organ transplantation. It occurs when the recipient's immune system recognizes the transplanted organ as foreign and attacks it. Immunosuppressive drugs are typically used to prevent organ rejection.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

There are many ethical and legal considerations in organ transplantation, including the process of organ allocation, the use of living donors, and the issue of organ trafficking.

See Also

• Transplant rejection
• Immunosuppressive drugs
• Organ donation
• Organ trafficking