Organ transplantation is the last resort when all other treatment options have failed. In order for a successful organ transplant, it is very important that the patient gets the right match. Organ transplantation has helped people to live a normal and healthy life even after fighting life-threatening diseases like kidney failure, heart failure, liver failure and many more.
In the case of a Kidney transplant, any one of the kidneys is replaced with a healthy one that is taken from a donor. People who undergo this procedure often lead a normal life after the surgery is done but have to take certain precautionary measures.
The Kidney Transplant is recommended only with any other treatment has failed. In such cases, to keep the patient alive the doctor may recommend Kidney transplant or Dialysis depending on the urgency of the medical condition of the patient.
Before the patient goes for the surgery, a series of tests and trials are conducted to get the right match. This is often done by using blood and tissue samples so that the patient’s body can accept the new kidney. Today, the robotic surgery is used to remove the kidney from the donor’s body and even for placing the new kidney in the body
A Heart Transplant is an ideal option for people who are diagnosed with severe Coronary Artery Diseases, or are at risk of a heart failure. In this surgical procedure, the failed heart is replaced with a healthy one. The ideal donors for this form of transplant are either patients who are brain dead or those who have passed away recently. Before the transplant, tissues and blood samples are matched to ensure that the receiver’s body will be able to accept the new heart without too many complications or rejections.
Liver transplant is a procedure wherein a healthy liver replaces a diseased liver. The surgery can take anywhere between 4-18 hours and requires a team of surgeons, nurses and an anesthesiologist. This is considered to be one of the complicated surgeries because there are many hepatic and abdominal tissues that have to be reconnected and disconnected at the time of removal of the old liver and while placing the new one.
The surgeon may choose any one of the three options available for liver transplant. They are
⦁ Cadaver Donor Transplantation – This is when the liver is taken out from a brain-dead person or a diseased person.
⦁ Living Donor Transplantation – In this case, the liver may be obtained from a blood member of the patient. This can include his/her child, sibling, parents or anyone from the extended blood relatives.
⦁ Auxiliary Transplantation – In this form of transplantation, the liver is taken out from a healthy and living donor who may not be a family member but is an ideal match for the patient.
For patients who suffer from medical conditions like thalassemia, cancers like lymphomas or leukemia, the bone marrow transplant is considered to be one of the most intensive treatments that can be used. The bone marrow is responsible to help in the production of the platelets which help in the prevention of bleeding. It also helps in the production of the red blood cells that help to supply the oxygen found in the blood throughout the body, and for the production of the white blood cells which helps in protecting our body against any infection. Apart from that, it is also done for the generation of stem cells which ultimately develop into bone marrow.
There are two types of Bone Marrow transplants, they are
Autologous Transplants – In this method, the patient’s stem cells or bone marrow is preserved or stored before opting for any high dose treatment. Once the treatment is completed, the doctor will then use the help of the veins to inject the stem cells or bone marrow back into the patient’s body.
Allogeneic Transplants – The Allogeneic transplant is a method wherein a donor’s stem cell or bone marrow is used in the patient’s body. This can be someone who is related to the patient like a sibling, close relative or parent. It can also be done through someone who is a perfect match even though the donor is not related to the patient by blood.
Known to be one of the most important transplants, the surgical procedure of the Cornea Transplant is done on patients that have a problem with their cornea. This procedure is recommended when there is extensive damage due to malnutrition, genetic diseases, infection or injury to the cornea. In such cases, the patient loses his/ability to see properly and/or may also have a permanent loss of vision or blindness. The cornea transplant is the only way to help restore the patient’s vision.
When the doctor considers a donor, he/she will check to ensure that there is no past history of any medical condition that results in vision loss. The donor is generally a person who has passed away recently. Given the fact that this is one of the most important and sensitive surgeries, a qualified ophthalmologist surgeon or an eye specialist can do this surgery.