What is Transplantation
Transplantation is a sub-specialty of medicine in which damaged human cells, tissues and organs are transplanted or replaced or substituted by a new one where the exiting one does not function properly.
Transplantation of human cells, tissues and organs
Transplantation of human cells, tissues or organs is a modern advancement in medicine. It is getting more popular nowadays which is performed to save many lives and restores essential functions where no alternatives of comparable effectiveness exist (WHO, 2022).
Past and current situation
Transplantation has become a successful practice worldwide over the 50 years. However, the availability of opportunity is not same in every country. Access to suitable transplantation and the level of safety, quality, efficacy of donation and transplantation of human cells, tissues and organs are largely different between countries. The shortage of transplants leads to the temptation of trafficking in human body components for transplantation.
Human transplantation
Transplantation of human cells and tissues can save lives or restore essential functions. For example
- A corneal graft can restore sight in corneal blindness,
- The transplantation of haematopoietic stem cells can cure congenital or acquired diseases including some leukaemias,
- The transplantation of a human heart valve often constitutes the best replacement situation and recipient patients do not require long term anti-coagulation therapy.
Reference
WHO, 2022. Transplantation. Last accessed on 13/11/2022. https://www.who.int/health-topics/transplantation#tab=tab_1.