Need, process and importance of organ transplantation

Abstract

Organ transplantation is a medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and replaced in the body of a patient who has damaged or missing organs. The person who donates organ is called donor whereas a patient who receives it, is called the recipient. The donor and recipient may be available in the same location, or organs may be transferred from a donor site to the recipient site by a suitable method. Successfully transplanted organs to date include the lungs, intestine, uterus, heart, pancreas, liver and thymus, and kidneys. Tissues that are transplanted include tendons, skin, bones, valves, cornea, nerves and veins. Worldwide, the most commonly transplanted organs are kidneys, then liver, and then the heart. Organ donors are living, or brain dead. Cadaver transplantation is the most challenging, complex, and risky areas in the field of medical and surgical science. Overall transplantation requires patience, financial planning, ethical consideration, dedication, and expertise of the medical team. It involves a major risk of a patient's life. But it is considered the most miraculous treatment of the century in the field of medical science. The present review is therefore planned to focus on its importance, types, history, need, process, medications, and risks of organ transplantation.