Transplant Medicine is a vital medical field dedicated to replacing diseased or damaged organs and tissues with healthy ones. This life-saving specialty...
Organ transplantation is a surgical procedure to replace a failing or diseased organ with a healthy one from a deceased or living donor, aiming to restore bodily function and improve patient quality of life.
Commonly transplanted organs include kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas, and intestines. Tissues like corneas, bone marrow, and skin can also be transplanted.
Individuals can register as organ donors through their local DMV or state donor registry, or by indicating their wish on their driver's license. Living donation is also an option for certain organs like kidneys or parts of the liver.
Key challenges include the critical shortage of available organs, preventing organ rejection by the recipient's immune system, managing lifelong immunosuppressive medication side effects, and addressing ethical dilemmas and access disparities.