ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION ABROAD
ORGAN TRANSPLANTATIONS IN TURKEY
Kidney transplants are successfully performed in Turkey.
More than 100 years have passed since the first experiments with organ transplants. The initial transplants were performed on animals. The first organ transplantation procedure on a human was carried out about 50 years ago. Thanks to the advancements in medicine and healthcare, organ transplants are now at a level where they save lives. As a reference center for many complex treatments, the Acıbadem Hospitals Group in Turkey has achieved numerous pioneering successes, including the first organ and tissue transplants.
Other pioneering successes of Acıbadem include the first kidney transplant on a baby with the lowest weight, the first kidney donation from an 84-year-old donor, the first single-port kidney donation, the first transvaginal kidney donation using the NOTES method, the first kidney transplant from an 85-year-old brain-dead female donor, and the first liver segment transplant where the mother was the donor and her 8-year-old child was the recipient. These are just a few examples of our achievements.
Every day, promising advances are being made in organ transplantation. Donors and recipients, as well as scientists and doctors, are striving for a healthier and longer life. The dysfunction of an organ or tissue can lead to the gradual, and sometimes rapid, deterioration of the entire organism. While patients with organ failure have numerous treatment options available, transplantation is considered the best treatment option in terms of therapeutic benefit, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness.
Organ and tissue transplantation involves the transfer of organs or tissue from one body or donor area into the patient’s body. The goal of organ/tissue transplantation is to replace a damaged or missing organ or tissue. Conditions such as kidney failure, liver failure, lung or heart diseases, type 1 diabetes, and certain types of cancer like leukemia can be treated with organ/tissue transplants.
Organ and tissue transplants can be performed either within the same person’s body, known as an autotransplant, or from one body to another, known as an allotransplant. Regarding the donor, there are two types of organ/tissue transplants: living donations and postmortem donations (from brain-dead intensive care patients). Since humans are born with two kidneys and one kidney is sufficient for life, and because the liver is a regenerative organ, both the kidney and liver can be harvested from a living donor.
Foreign patients must bring their own donors. By law, donors must either be relatives or very close friends (with proof). In some cases, it may also be possible to place patients on a cross-match list. In this case, efforts will be made to match patients with available donors.
From abroad, kidney transplants, liver transplants, and bone marrow transplants are the most commonly requested.
Contact us today for any questions. We are happy to assist you.