Heart & Kidney Transplant | American Organ Transplant Association

Transplants: Wonders of Modern Medicine

According to a saying, when science or technology is sufficiently sophisticated, it becomes quite difficult to distinguish it from magic. This is a very true statement especially in the 21st century where one is awed by the incredible advances made in various facets of science and technology. Perhaps, some of the most amazing developments are those that have been in the life-saving field of medicine.

The medical world is always churning out one beneficial discovery after the other to the billions on this planet who stand to gain from such discoveries. From immunization to in-vitro fertilization, medicine has demonstrated that the future is brighter with science and technology. One of such discoveries that will be discussed here is organ transplantation. Although it was once faced with serious opposition like other novel concepts, organ transplants have come to stay –for good. However, that is not to say that all the battles have been won.

Nowadays, transplants are available for many organs and tissues in the body and these have proven to be extremely important in a number of cases. At this juncture, it will be informative to mention some of the organs and tissues. These include the heart, liver, pancreas, thymus, cornea, bone marrow, skin, intestines, kidney, musculoskeletal tissues (ligaments, tendons) and many others. The most exciting part of it is that research has not stopped in this field and if all works accordingly, transplants will be available for every single part of the human body.

This is quite possible considering the giant strides that have been made in the field of stem cell research. It is now known that stem cells have the property known as pluripotency. What this simply means is that a stem cell that is extracted from the bone marrow or the fetus has the ability to develop into any of the cells of the body.

Filed Under: Heart & Kidney Transplant, Organ Transplant Tagged With: Bone marrow, Medicine, Stem cell

When a Transplant is Needed

In our world of today, we are very opportuned to have access to things that only existed in the dreams of our ancestors. A few centuries ago, people died in their millions from diseases like smallpox that have now been eradicated through vaccination and immunization. Such is the amazing nature of strides that have been made in modern medical science.

Today, it is quite common to see patients go for routine organ transplantation procedures. It is a fact that this practice is one that is widely popular and one that grows by the day. However, when exactly is a transplant needed? Although when the word ‘transplant’ is mentioned, most people are tempted to think of organs. However, it is important to know that transplantation is not done for organs only as it is also done with tissues of the body. Tissue transplant becomes necessary in a case where the original tissue has become diseased, destroyed or infected. Burns victims may also be in need of skin transplant depending on how extensive the burn is. Cosmetic surgery is also another area where tissue transplantation is very essential. Either for children that have been born with congenital defects such as cleft lip and palate or supermodels that need to modify their looks, tissue transplantation is usually important.

In some other case, the patient may need more than just a tissue. He or she may be in serious need of a part of an organ or a whole organ in some cases. For example, for a patient that is suffering from chronic cardiac complications, a heart transplant may be the only thing that will save the life of the patient. Also, for another patient that has an end-stage disease of the kidney, a renal transplant is absolutely essential and liver transplant may be needed in conditions of liver cirrhosis or hepatitis.

Filed Under: Heart & Kidney Transplant, Organ Transplant Tagged With: Organ transplantation, Patient, Tissue (biology)

Transplants: Importance of Post-Operative Care

It is quite heartwarming to realize that modern science has advanced to such an extent that surgeries can now be done under an hour and the patient discharged on the same day. However, it is important to know that this scenario can only be possible with minor procedures, most of which are cosmetic in nature. Some patients need comprehensive post-operative care before they are discharged. In this category are those that receive transplants, especially organ transplants.

In the 21st century, transplants are available for a bewildering array of tissues and organs –cornea, bone marrow, skin, liver, pancreas, intestines and some others. Although performed on a routine basis, it is important that a patient that has received an organ transplant gets a very meticulous care after the surgery for a number of reasons that will be discussed.

The first has to do with the fact that in those that receive organ transplants, there is always a feared complication of the surgery and that is organ rejection. This is understandable in the face of the fact that the organs that have been transplanted are foreign to the host’s body and the immune system will react by considering the graft or organ as a foreign body. If adequate care is not taken, fatal reactions can occur. Thus, it is important that the patient be placed on drugs that will suppress the immune system and allow the body ‘accept’ the foreign body.

However, because of the fact that the immune system has been suppressed, it means that the patient is now vulnerable to various diseases. Thus, extra care must be taken to ensure that the patient does not succumb to opportunistic infections like tuberculosis. This is in addition to seeing to it that the patient takes the drugs regularly. However, as the caregiver, one must watch out for adverse drug reactions, some of which are not in the least palatable.

Filed Under: Heart & Kidney Transplant, Organ Transplant Tagged With: Immune system, Organ transplantation, Transplant rejection

The Future of Transplants

One of the most interesting and amazing things about the world that we live in is the fact that never in the history of humanity has so much progress been made in the realms of science and technology. Our very lives are controlled and in some cases saved, or maintained by science and technology. This is what obtains in the field of medicine where incredible discoveries and advances have been made. One of such is the transplantation of tissues and organs. Transplants can be from human to human, animal to human or from one part of the same body to another.

Whatever the nature of the transplant, the fact is that transplants have come to stay and this is evident by the staggering number of parts of the body that can be transplanted. At this point, it will not only be enightening but also imperative to mention some of these parts. These include the heart, liver, kidney, intestines, thymus, pancreas, skin, bone marrow and a host of others. Considering the fact that countless lives have been saved and many more now have a better quality of life, transplantation can be considered a huge success.

Although it is tempting to be carried away by the successes recorded, it is important to state that there are many challenges that have to be surmounted. For example, not all parts of the body can be transplanted for one reason or the other, reasons that science has not been able to fully explain. The brain is a very good example of an organ that cannot be transplanted although if that were possible, millions of people with undoubtedly benefit especially those with debilitating neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. However, the good thing is that the future looks more promising and brighter especially with the giant strides made in stem cell research.

Filed Under: Heart & Kidney Transplant, Organ Transplant Tagged With: Bone marrow, Organ transplantation, Stem cell

Kidney Transplants

Individuals with end-stage renal disease can be provided the chance of extended life through a kidney transplant. A kidney transplant can involve the donation of a kidney from a deceased donor or a living donor. A large majority of patients with end-stage renal disease are on dialysis prior to receiving their new kidney. The dialysis process removes waste and excess water from the blood. A patient undergoing dialysis treatments will be required to make frequent visits to a medical facility for treatments. The procedure does not cure the diseased organ but does keep it operational until a kidney becomes available for transplant.

Acceptance as a potential kidney transplant recipient is determined by a number of factors. Age and health risk factors are considered when an individual is placed on the waiting list. Candidates with cardiac or pulmonary dysfunction and obesity related issues present a higher probability of complications from a transplant surgery. These risks may prevent a candidate from being placed on the waiting list. Extensive testing is done to determine patient candidates who have strong chances for transplant success.

A large percentage of patients who undergo a kidney transplant keep their existing malfunctioning kidneys. The new kidney is positioned in a different location and a different blood supply is used to support the working functions of the new kidney. A kidney transplant surgery last approximately five hours. Most newly transplanted kidneys begin functioning immediately. Normal functioning levels occur within a few days. Kidneys donated by a living donor function normally within five days after the surgery. Normal function occurs within fifteen days of a surgery that involves a cadaver kidney. Kidney transplant patients can expect a seven day hospital stay after their surgery. The life expectancy of an individual with renal disease is fifteen years longer with a kidney transplant versus continued dialysis.

Filed Under: Heart & Kidney Transplant

Heart Transplants

A heart transplant is preformed on an individual with end-stage heart failure or severe coronary artery disease. Heart transplant candidates must undergo a multitude of physical tests to determine their eligibility for entry on a transplant waiting list. The must also undergo an extensive physicological examination. Conditions that may prohibit a patient from being placed on the organ waiting list include: diabetes, vascular disease and additional major organ issues. The age of an organ donation candidate and alcohol, drug or tobacco use will also be considered when selecting potential organ recipients.

The majority of heart transplant procedures use the working heart from a deceased organ donor or brain dead donor. Recipients are called to the medical center when a heart becomes available. While the transplant recipient is being evaluated for the transplant procedure, the available heart is removed and inspected to determine if it is viable for transplant. In most cases the diseased heart of the transplant recipient is removed and replaced with the donor heart. In some cases the recipients diseased heart is left to help support the donor heart.

Transplant patients can expect a hospital stay of up to 21 days after the procedure. The recovery period for a heart transplant is approximately six months. Heart transplant patients will be asked to stay near the medical center for at least three months after the operation. Heart recipients will undergo biopsies of their new heart monthly for up to a year after the transplant procedure. These biopsies will monitor the new organ and alert medical personnel of potential complications. Prescription medicines that prevent the transplant recipients body from rejecting the new organ will be a continued part of supporting the new heart.

The survival rate of heart transplant patients has increased within the past few years. Approximately 80% of heart transplant recipients survive three years after the procedure. If rejection of the new organ is prevented, a patient can survive for ten years after their operation.

Filed Under: Heart & Kidney Transplant, Organ Transplant

A Summary of Medical Care for Organ Donors of Kidneys

When you are a living kidney donor, there are some things that you need to know. One of the most important things that you need to know throughout the process is the medical care that you will undergo throughout the process of donating your kidney. So you will have sort of an idea what you will be subjected to, you should look over this summary of medical care.

Before the Procedure

Before you undergo the actual procedure of donating your kidney, you will have to take a series of tests to confirm that you are healthy enough to give up a kidney. You will have to have your blood pressure checked. You will have to have tests to confirm that your heart is healthy, such as a stress test. Then, you will need to have your blood drawn and provide a urine specimen to confirm that your kidneys are working properly. After all of these tests take place, blood from both you and the recipient will be put into a dish and will be watched to see if the match is perfect. This will be done a few times, as cells can sometimes change. Finally, dye will be injected into you, and an X-ray will be done to see which of your kidneys is working the best. You will be left with the best working kidney.

During the Procedure

When it is time for you to donate your kidney, you will be admitted into the hospital to day before your surgery. You will get to eat a good last meal, and then later on in the evening, you will be drained of your urine via catheter. The next morning, you will be catherized again before surgery.

During the procedure, your kidney will be removed from you first, and then it will be placed on a block of ice. The kidney will then be transported to your recipient. Your recipient will undergo surgery, and your kidney will be transplanted.

After the Procedure

You will need six weeks to recover. Your medical care will consist of a slow introduction to normal foods.

Filed Under: Heart & Kidney Transplant Tagged With: Kidney

The Waiting List for Transplants Can be Long

Anyone who needs an organ transplant knows that it’s a requirement that they get one or they might not survive. How long someone can wait for that transplant depends on the organ that they need, the severity of their condition, and other factors. If you’ve been placed on a transplant list, you know that your time may be running short. At any time, you could get the call that your new organ is ready, and you’ll have to get to the hospital right away. Organs can only be kept viable for a few hours, and the time that’s available to transplant them can vary by the type of organ.

Don’t assume that you won’t get your transplant, but do understand and accept that the wait can be long. There are people on transplant lists who don’t survive to see their transplant take place. That happens because of a shortage of organs – some of which could be adjusted if more people were organ donors. Even then, there are reasons why transplants don’t work out. Some people are harder to match than others, and the body can also reject the organ after the transplant. There are powerful drugs designed to stop this, but they don’t always work the way they were intended.

There are people of all ages on transplant lists around the country. Some of them have been waiting a few days, and other have been waiting months. For something like a kidney the wait can be longer because dialysis can keep the person alive. If someone needs a heart transplant, though, that wait time may be much more critical. There is only so much that medical science can do for a person who’s heart is failing. The transplant itself also carries risk, but getting from the list to the actual transplant is the main goal of people who need a new organ.

Filed Under: Heart & Kidney Transplant, Organ Donors, Organ Transplant

Providing the Best Post-Transplant Patient Care

With organ transplantation, safety of donors and patients is always given consideration. Several tests may be made on the donor to make sure that the organ is not deficient and free from antibodies for HIV and Hepatitis. Subsequently, after the process of organ transplantation, the patient must undergo an appropriate post transplant patient care. This may include specialized care in a particular health center with expert doctors to avoid complications.

Basically, post transplant patient care may take 2 to 3 months after receiving the organ from the donor. However, there are some cases that patients are capable of getting full recovery just within 1 to 2 months, and they could return right away to their active life and get back to work. Transplant physicians may only require the patient follow-up visits for health monitoring purposes. Follow-up visits are always a part of the post transplant patient care wherein the patient’s personal transplant physician remains active in providing all the patient’s needs for a full recovery. Transplant physicians should make updates whether the new organ is really functioning well together with the other organs of the patient. Post transplant patient care doesn’t just involve monitoring. Perhaps it also includes several diagnostics, medical examinations (urine, blood, X-ray, etc.), medical analysis and medical reviews to ensure patient’s safety and success of the operation. Patients who have gone kidney transplants will have a need of regular visits to a renal clinic to get some laboratory test related to kidney conditions done.

Post transplant patient care doesn’t end in just 3 months, or even in a year. It is very important for patients to have regular check-ups with their physicians to verify changes in health. Discipline is also a very important key. Patients must obey restrictions from their physicians especially on their proper diet to avoid problems and to have a healthy lifestyle.

Filed Under: Heart & Kidney Transplant, Organ Transplant Tagged With: Health, Kidney, Kidney transplantation

Different Types of Organ Transplant

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Organ transplant is becoming increasingly common in the medical world. With the aid of the latest technologies, organ transplantations are made viable to help individuals with organ failures to live a longer life. It has become a popular option in advancing life-saving medical treatment to several patients with organ diseases. Apparently, there are several types of organ transplants, and each varies with its surgical purposes.

-Domino Transplants

Cystic Fibrosis is a disease that causes early death due to a cyst formation within the pancreas. It also results to lung infections that cause breathing difficulty in patients. It can’t be cured with antibiotics, and the best solution to treat this typical disease is through organ transplantation. Domino Transplant is one of the most suitable types of transplants for patients with cystic fibrosis wherein both lungs and the heart are in need to be replaced.

-Split Transplants

There are cases where a single organ from a deceased donor would be divided for the benefit of two recipients. This is referred to as Split Transplant. However, transplantation of a whole organ is more preferable as it is more efficient.

-Auto-graft

This is a transplant of tissue done on the same person. At times, it is done with spare tissues or renewable tissues. Common applications are vein extraction, skin transplantations, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG).

-Allograft

Most organ or tissue transplants are not the same. Allograft is a type of transplant done with organs or tissues which are from two genetically non-identical individuals. In some instances, the organ recipient must take an immunosuppressant to keep the immune system from risk and prevent transplant rejection.

-Isograft

This is a type of transplant that includes divisions of allo-grafts done with organs or tissues that will be planted on identical individuals particularly to identical twin.

-Xenograft/Xenotransplantation

This is definitely one of the most serious and dangerous types of transplants that are carried out on human and non-human recipients. Organs or tissues will be transplanted from one species to another.

Filed Under: Heart & Kidney Transplant, Organ Transplant Tagged With: Cystic fibrosis, Organ transplantation, Transplant rejection