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Kim Y, Kim B, Kang M, Nam H, Ko DH, Park Y. Associations of Perioperative Red Blood Cell Transfusion With Outcomes of Kidney Transplantation in Korea Over a 16-Year Period. J Korean Med Sci 2023; 38:e212. [PMID: 37463685 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigated the associations between transfusion of different types of red blood cell (RBC) preparations and kidney allograft outcomes after kidney transplantation (KT) over a 16-year period in Korea using a nationwide population-based cohort. METHODS We investigated the reported use of RBCs during hospitalization for KT surgery, rejection, and graft failure status using nationwide data from the National Health Information Database (2002-2017). The associations between the type of perioperative RBC product and transplant outcomes were evaluated among four predefined groups: no RBC transfusion, filtered RBCs, washed RBCs, and packed RBCs (pRBCs). RESULTS A total of 17,754 KT patients was included, among which 8,530 (48.0%) received some type of RBC transfusion. Of the patients who received RBC transfusion, 74.9%, 19.7%, and 5.4% received filtered RBCs, pRBCs, or washed RBCs, respectively. Regardless of the type of RBC products, the proportions of acute rejection and graft failure was significantly greater in patients receiving transfusion (P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression analyses showed that the filtered RBC and pRBC groups were significantly associated with both rejection and graft failure. The washed RBC group also had hazard ratios greater than 1.0 for rejection and graft failure, but the association was not significant. Rejection-free survival of the pRBC group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P < 0.001, log-rank test), and graft survival for the no RBC transfusion group was significantly greater than in the other groups (P < 0.001, log-rank test). CONCLUSION Perioperative RBC transfusion was associated with poor graft outcomes. Notably, transfusion of pRBCs significantly increased transplant rejection. Therefore, careful consideration of indications for RBC transfusion and selection of the appropriate type of RBCs is necessary, especially for patients at high risk of rejection or graft failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonjung Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Banseok Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea
| | - Minjin Kang
- Research Institute, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea
| | - HyunJun Nam
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dae-Hyun Ko
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Yongjung Park
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Pavli A, Maltezou HC. Infectious complications related to medical tourism. J Travel Med 2021; 28:5959955. [PMID: 33159509 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical tourism has been increasing dramatically globally, with people travelling from developed countries to low-income or middle-income countries, often to avoid high costs or long delays associated with seeking healthcare in their countries of origin. The current review summarizes healthcare-related infections associated with medical tourism, focusing on cosmetic surgery and organ transplantation. METHODS A systematic MEDLINE and PubMed search from January 2010 to December 2019 yielded 80 relevant articles, including 49 articles on medical tourism-related infections focusing on cosmetic surgery and organ transplantation, which were included in this reviews. RESULTS The literature reveals specific types of cross-border, healthcare-related infections depending on medical intervention. Destinations include low-income countries such as countries of Asia and the Indian subcontinent, middle-income countries including Central and South America, and high-income countries such as the United States and Europe. In terms of type of infections, in 36 (68%) and 15 (28.3%) studies, wound and blood-borne infections were documented, respectively, while in 21 studies (58.3%) non-tuberculous mycobacteria were isolated, including Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium senegalense and Mycobacterium fortuitum. The choices of medical tourists could have significant consequences for them and their home countries, including infectious complications and importation of pathogens, particularly antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, with public health implications. CONCLUSIONS There is a need for public health strategies in order to prevent morbidity and mortality as well as future management and education of patients engaging in medical tourism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Androula Pavli
- Department of Travel Medicine, National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece
| | - Helena C Maltezou
- Directorate of Research, Studies and Documentation, National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece
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Changing Patterns of Foreigner Transplants in Korea and Overseas Organ Transplants Among Koreans. Transplantation 2018; 102:310-317. [PMID: 28863044 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000001935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to estimate the numbers of foreign patients seeking organ transplantation (OT) in Korea and to examine the relationship between the trend of deceased donors in Korea and number of Korean patients seeking OT overseas since 2000. METHODS Data on foreigners who received a transplant in Korea were obtained from the Korean Network for Organ Sharing. Data on overseas transplants were obtained from 42 transplant centers surveyed through transplant coordinators. RESULTS A total of 336 foreigners underwent OT (kidney transplantation [KT], 174; liver transplantation [LT], 162) in Korea between 2006 and 2016. The Mongolians were the most common foreigners who undergo KTs (32%), followed by the Chinese (18%), Americans (9%), and Emiratis (7%). Among foreigners undergoing LTs, the most common country of origin was Mongolia (39%), followed by United Arab Emirates (23%), China (13%), and the United States (6%). A total of 2206 Korean patients underwent overseas OT (KT, 977; LT, 1229) between 2000 and 2016. In 97% of overseas KT cases (n = 942) and 98% (n = 1205) of overseas LT cases, the transplantations were performed in China. The relationship between the number of deceased donors in Korea and the number of overseas transplants after 2006 indicates a highly negative correlation. (ρ = -0.988, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This analysis of trends in Korean patients seeking OT overseas demonstrates the importance of multilateral approaches to address organ trafficking. National effort to achieve self-sufficiency by increasing activities for organ donations is one of the fundamental solutions to transplant tourism.
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Tsai DFC, Huang SW, Holm S, Lin YP, Chang YK, Hsu CC. The outcomes and controversies of transplant tourism-Lessons of an 11-year retrospective cohort study from Taiwan. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178569. [PMID: 28575014 PMCID: PMC5456093 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transplant tourism has increased rapidly in the past two decades, accounting for about 10% of world organ transplants. However it is ethically controversial and discouraged by professional guidelines. We conducted this study to investigate the outcomes and trends of overseas kidney and liver transplantation in Taiwan to provide a sound basis for ethical reflection. Methods and findings The Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database was used to identify 2381 domestic and 2518 overseas kidney transplant (KT) recipients from 1998 to 2009 and 1758 domestic and 540 overseas liver transplantation (LT) recipients from 1999 to 2009. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the risks of mortality and graft failure. The numbers of overseas transplantation increased after 2000, reached a peak in 2005 and decreased after 2007. Compared to their domestic counterparts, the overseas KT recipients were older, male predominant, with shorter pre-op dialysis period and more comorbidities. Similarly, the overseas LT recipients were older, male predominant and had more hepatocellular carcinoma cases. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year patient survival rates were 96.9%, 91.7% and 83.0% respectively for domestic KT and 95.8%, 87.8% and 73.1% for overseas KT (p<0.001). The 1-, 5-, and 10-year patient survival rates were 89.2%, 79.5%, 75.2% for domestic LT and 79.8%, 54.7%, 49.9% for overseas LT (p<0.001). Conclusion The poorer outcomes of the overseas groups may be due to more older patients, more comorbidities (KT), or more hepatocellular carcinoma recurrences (LT). After domestic reform and international ethical challenges, the numbers of organ tourism decreased but the practice still persisted surreptitiously. Compulsory registration policies for overseas transplantation with international conventions to sanction organ trafficking and transplant tourism should be considered to stop these controversial practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fu-Chang Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Bioethics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine; Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital; and Centre of Biomedical Ethics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shi-Wei Huang
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan
| | - Soren Holm
- School of Law, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Yi-Ping Lin
- Office of Health Care Policy Research, Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Kang Chang
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Tungs’ Taichung Metro Harbor Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Cheng Hsu
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
- Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Ahn HJ, Kwon OJ, Ahn C. Comment on the Article "On Patients Who Purchase Organ Transplants Abroad". Am J Transplant 2017; 17:303-304. [PMID: 27545650 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- H J Ahn
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - O J Kwon
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Han Yang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - C Ahn
- Division of Nephrology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
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Ambagtsheer F, de Jong J, Bramer WM, Weimar W. On Patients Who Purchase Organ Transplants Abroad. Am J Transplant 2016; 16:2800-2815. [PMID: 26932422 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.13766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The international transplant community portrays organ trade as a growing and serious crime involving large numbers of traveling patients who purchase organs. We present a systematic review about the published number of patients who purchased organs. With this information, we discuss whether the scientific literature reflects a substantial practice of organ purchase. Between 2000 and 2015, 86 studies were published. Seventy-six of these presented patients who traveled and 42 stated that the transplants were commercial. Only 11 studies reported that patients paid, and eight described to what or whom patients paid. In total, during a period of 42 years, 6002 patients have been reported to travel for transplantation. Of these, only 1238 were reported to have paid for their transplants. An additional unknown number of patients paid for their transplants in their native countries. We conclude that the scientific literature does not reflect a large number of patients buying organs. Organ purchases were more often assumed than determined. A reporting code for transplant professionals to report organ trafficking networks is a potential strategy to collect and quantify cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Ambagtsheer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Transplantation and Nephrology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J de Jong
- Analysis and Research Department, Central Division of the National Police, Driebergen, the Netherlands.,Willem Pompe Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - W M Bramer
- Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - W Weimar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Transplantation and Nephrology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The disparity between patients awaiting transplantation and available organs has widened, and resultant organ shortage became a world crisis. The transplantation community has made considerable progress in national organ donation system in Korea, and significant growth in the number of deceased donors has been witnessed. METHODS After introduction of the Organ Transplant Act, which was enacted in 2000, transparency was established in organ allocation system in Korea. However, the number of deceased donor dwindled significantly from 162 in 1999 to 36 in 2002. To improve deceased donation, several strategies were pursued, and finally new national organ donation system was established through the amendment of the Organ Transplant Act. RESULTS Organ incentive system, which was introduced in 2003, failed to increase the number of deceased donors (68 in 2003, 86 in 2004, and 91 in 2005). Monetary incentive to the bereaved family was introduced in 2006 and slightly increased the number of deceased donor (141 in 2006). However, this effect was not long-lasting (148 in 2007). After enforcement of the new Organ Transplant Act, which included nationwide independent organ procurement organization and mandatory report of potential brain death, the number of deceased donors significantly increased, reaching 368 in 2011. The growth continued and the number of deceased donors reached 409 (8.03 pmp) in 2012. CONCLUSION There has been a significant growth in the number of deceased donors in Korea since the appropriate deceased organ donation system was launched. A comprehensive national program is required to improve deceased donation and achieve self-sufficiency.
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Tan J, Khalil MAM, Tan SY, Khalil M, Ahmed D, Zinna S, Chong W. Outcomes of Renal Transplantation in Brunei Darussalam over a Twenty-Year Period (1993-2012). J Transplant 2014; 2014:784805. [PMID: 25478205 PMCID: PMC4247949 DOI: 10.1155/2014/784805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Revised: 10/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives. Brunei Darussalam has a high prevalence and incidence of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Up until 2012, all renal transplantations were performed in overseas centres, either as government-sponsored (living-related transplantation) or as self-sponsored (commercialized transplantation) ones. We hypothesize that graft and patient survival of Brunei renal transplant patients are on a par with international standards. Materials and Methods. Data of all renal transplant patients in Brunei were analysed over a twenty-year period from registry records and case notes. Comparative survival data from other countries were obtained from PubMed-listed literature. Results. A total of 49 transplantation procedures were performed in foreign centres between 1993 and 2012. 29 were government-sponsored and 20 were self-sponsored transplantations. The 5- and 10-year overall patient survival rates were 93.3% and 90.1%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year overall graft survival rates were 91.1% and 81.2%. There is no difference in the survival outcomes of government-sponsored and self-sponsored patients. Living-related (government-sponsored) and commercialised (self-sponsored) grafts had equivalent survival to those reported in the literature. Conclusion. Our survival data was on par with those achieved in many countries. We hope to use this information to convince local stakeholders and patients to favour transplantation as the preferred modality of RRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Tan
- RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA1710, Brunei Darussalam
| | | | - Si Yen Tan
- Prince Court Medical Centre, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Khalil
- RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA1710, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Dalinatul Ahmed
- RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA1710, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Shaukat Zinna
- RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA1710, Brunei Darussalam
| | - William Chong
- RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA1710, Brunei Darussalam
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Kabiling CS, Chen CL, Concejero A, Wang CC, Wang SH, Lin CC, Liu YW, Yong CC, Jawan B, Cheng YF. Section 18. Professional framework for liver transplantation for overseas patients: traveling for living donor liver transplantation. Transplantation 2014; 97 Suppl 8:S75-9. [PMID: 24849841 DOI: 10.1097/01.tp.0000446282.66675.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver transplantation (LT) in overseas patients is a sensitive issue because of the possibility of organ trafficking and transplant tourism. In the Istanbul Summit, there was a call to develop standardized professional frameworks to prevent these practices. OBJECTIVES Our objectives are three-fold, to critically evaluate our professional framework, to study the demographic profiles, and to identify the outcome and impact of LT in overseas patients. METHODS Recipient and donor case records, e-mail communications, and medico-legal records were collected and analyzed for management strategy, demographic profile, donor and recipient characteristics, and outcome. RESULTS Only 5% of our total LT operations were for overseas patients. Forty-two (79%) were pediatric cases for which 39 (93%) were due to biliary atresia (P<0.001). Sixty-eight percent were from the Philippines. Thirty-seven (70%) of the donors were first-degree relative. The average hospital days of a pediatric living donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipient was 65.48±28.7, and average cost was 44,602 USD. An adult LDLT recipient stayed for 52.09±11.3 days and spent around 75, 013 USD. A donor of pediatric LDLT stayed in the hospital for 17.42±5 days and spent round 8,176 USD. A donor for adult LDLT was admitted for 15.5±4 days and spent an average 9,612 USD. The total cost for recipient and donor were 56,615 USD (range, 28,976-82,056) for pediatric LDLT and 84,483 USD (range, 64,851-108,467) for adult LDLT. Actuarial survival rates were 91% at 1 year, 88% at 3 years, and 86% at 5 years and 10 years. CONCLUSION Travelling for LDLT may be a wise and cost-effective step for patients with end-stage liver disease seeking alternative ways from their country. Our professional framework is effective to prevent practice of organ trafficking and transplant tourism. It may be useful to develop international guidelines for the practice of LT in overseas patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine S Kabiling
- 1 Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. 2 Department of Anesthesiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. 3 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. 4 Address correspondence to: Chao-Long Chen, M.D., Liver Transplantation Program and Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123 Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan
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Rodríguez-Reimundes E, Soler-Pujol G, Díaz CH, Dávalos-Michel M, Jost LJ, Laham G, Vilches AR. Travel for transplantation and transplant commercialism in Argentina: a 4-decade experience from a University Hospital. Clin Transplant 2014; 28:377-82. [DOI: 10.1111/ctr.12323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ezequiel Rodríguez-Reimundes
- Nephrology and Transplantation Section; Department of Medicine; Hospital Universitario CEMIC; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Gervasio Soler-Pujol
- Nephrology and Transplantation Section; Department of Medicine; Hospital Universitario CEMIC; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Carlos H. Díaz
- Nephrology and Transplantation Section; Department of Medicine; Hospital Universitario CEMIC; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Mario Dávalos-Michel
- Nephrology and Transplantation Section; Department of Medicine; Hospital Universitario CEMIC; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Luis J. Jost
- Nephrology and Transplantation Section; Department of Medicine; Hospital Universitario CEMIC; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Gustavo Laham
- Nephrology and Transplantation Section; Department of Medicine; Hospital Universitario CEMIC; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Antonio R. Vilches
- Nephrology and Transplantation Section; Department of Medicine; Hospital Universitario CEMIC; Buenos Aires Argentina
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Anker AE, Feeley TH. Estimating the risks of acquiring a kidney abroad: a meta-analysis of complications following participation in transplant tourism. Clin Transplant 2012; 26:E232-41. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2012.01629.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley E. Anker
- Department of Communication; University of Buffalo; The State University of New York; Buffalo; NY; USA
| | - Thomas H. Feeley
- Department of Communication; University of Buffalo; The State University of New York; Buffalo; NY; USA
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Mendieta-Zerón H. Developing immunologic tolerance for transplantation at the fetal stage. Immunotherapy 2012; 3:1499-512. [PMID: 22091685 DOI: 10.2217/imt.11.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the shortage of human organs for transplantation, the waiting lists are increasing annually and consequently so is the time and deaths during the wait. As most immune suppression therapy is not antigen specific and the risk of infection tends to increase, scientists are looking for new options for immunosuppression or immunotolerance. Tolerance induction would avoid the complications caused by immunosupressive drugs. As such, taking into account the experience with autoimmune diseases, one strategy could be immune modulation-induced changes in T-cell cytokine secretion or antigen therapy; however, most clinical trials have failed. Gene transfer of MHC genes across species may be used to induce tolerance to xenogenic solid organs. Other options are induction of central tolerance by the establishment of mixed chimerism through hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the induction of 'operational tolerance' through immunodeviation involving dendritic or Tregs. I propose that, as the recognition and tolerance of proteins takes place in the thymus, this organ should be the main target for immunotolerance research protocols even as early as during the fetal development.
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Akoh JA. Key issues in transplant tourism. World J Transplant 2012; 2:9-18. [PMID: 24175191 PMCID: PMC3812925 DOI: 10.5500/wjt.v2.i1.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2011] [Revised: 12/18/2011] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Access to organ transplantation depends on national circumstances, and is partly determined by the cost of health care, availability of transplant services, the level of technical capacity and the availability of organs. Commercial transplantation is estimated to account for 5%-10% (3500-7000) of kidney transplants performed annually throughout the world. This review is to determine the state and outcome of renal transplantation associated with transplant tourism (TT) and the key challenges with such transplantation. The stakeholders of commercial transplantation include: patients on the waiting lists in developed countries or not on any list in developing countries; dialysis funding bodies; middlemen, hosting transplant centres; organ-exporting countries; and organ vendors. TT and commercial kidney transplants are associated with a high incidence of surgical complications, acute rejection and invasive infection which cause major morbidity and mortality. There are ethical and medical concerns regarding the management of recipients of organs from vendors. The growing demand for transplantation, the perceived failure of altruistic donation in providing enough organs has led to calls for a legalised market in organ procurement or regulated trial in incentives for donation. Developing transplant services worldwide has many benefits - improving results of transplantation as they would be performed legally, increasing the donor pool and making TT unnecessary. Meanwhile there is a need to re-examine intrinsic attitudes to TT bearing in mind the cultural and economic realities of globalisation. Perhaps the World Health Organization in conjunction with The Transplantation Society would set up a working party of stakeholders to study this matter in greater detail and make recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Akoh
- Jacob A Akoh, South West Transplant Centre, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH, United Kingdom
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