Obstacles Related to Surgical Replacement of a Nonfunctional Organ

Organ transplantation may be a life-saving option, but they are not without their challenges and risks. The concept of organ transplantation is both miraculous and challenging at the same time. Whether a patient needs a new kidney, liver, heart, or lung, there are multiple issues that the patient and the family need to deal with. They involve decisions before the transplantation and medical issues postoperatively.

Clinical Indication

Certain conditions, such as liver failure and kidney failure, have organ transplantation as a treatment option, but it is generally seen as a last resort. Organ transplants are considered only when all other treatments are exhausted or not likely to benefit the patient. Even when transplantation will be pursued, this is only the first of several obstacles.

Organ Donation

Organ donors are individuals who have declared permission, usually on a driver's license, to have their organs preserved after death for other needy individuals. In such a case, the donor's organs must be kept fresh by making sure the donor's blood pressure, heart rate, red blood cell count, oxygen level, and body temperature are adequately maintained. Once the donor is declared brain dead and permission from the donor's next of kin is confirmed, a surgical team can proceed to remove the organs needed for transplantation. These organs are preserved using various solutions and cooling methods, and they can be stored for up to several hours before being transplanted into another patient.

Aside from these steps, the limited supply of organs relative to the demand for organs still remains a significant obstacle, resulting in many patients on transplant waiting lists.

Immunosuppression

Even with the organ successfully transplanted, the body's immune system is a major postoperative hindrance. Except in the rare ideal case of an organ that is perfectly compatible with the patient's body, the immune system will see the organ as a foreign object and attack it, resulting in acute or chronic organ rejection and dysfunction of the organ.

Various medications, including corticosteroids, azathioprine, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus, function to suppress the immune system and minimize the risk of organ rejection. As long as the patient has the graft, maintenance immunosuppression is always necessary. There are many risks taken, however, including side effects with the drugs themselves and infections due to oversuppression of the immune system.

Final Words

Organ transplantation is a great medical advancement with many issues. Anyone who is in dire need of this treatment should prepare for all the steps of the process. As mentioned above, this treatment is something that should be considered a last resort.