Transplantation of the intestine

Abstract

The intestine was one of the last solid organs to be successfully transplanted. The reasons behind the barriers to successful intestinal transplantation (ITx) in humans are multifactorial. No doubt, the fact that the bowel is one of the largest and most active immune organs in the human body and the fact that bacteria and fungi reside in symbiosis within the lumen of the gut play a significant role. In fact, the immunogenicity of the intestine is so strong that successful transplantation was not possible without the advent of powerful immunosuppressive medications. This chapter outlines the development of this field, the surgical techniques used, the outcomes, as well as the major problems commonly seen after ITx. © 2008 Springer New York.