Structural requirements and interactions of transplant centers.
Transplantation of solid organs such as the heart, lung, liver, pancreas, small intestine, and kidney is the only way by which a potentially life-threatening condition can be treated permanently. Transplantation comprises not only the equipment needed to perform the transplantation itself and to offer pre- and postoperative care for the patient but also the know-how of an experienced team of surgeons and all other specialties involved in the care of a transplant candidate (cardiologists, nephrologists, and hepatologists, to name a few). Organ transplantation is a team effort that requires many "wheels to turn" to obtain the successful results we have today. Frequently, enthusiastic individuals try to setup a transplant center "single-handedly." None has succeeded without institutional, financial, and continuous support and in particular without an effectively structured organizational backbone to support the effort. This article summarizes the requirement for a liver transplantation center to perform these procedures and focuses also on ethical considerations.
Hertl
Martin
M
Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemein- und Transplantationschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.
Malagó
Massimo
M
Testa
Giuliano
G
Broelsch
Christoph E
CE
D006280:Health Workforce; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000592:standards*; D013038:Specialization; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000592:standards