The current status of multivisceral transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Multivisceral transplantation (MVTx) is concurrent transplantation of the stomach, spleen, pancreaticoduodenal complex, and intestine, with (MVTx) or without (modified MVTx) the liver. MVTx has been performed more frequently worldwide, and the survival of patients approximates that of patients who have undergone transplantation of other solid organs. This review introduces the recent development in MVTx.


METHODS
Two English-language medical databases, MEDLINE and SPRINGERLINK, were searched for articles on "multivisceral transplantation", "graft procurement", "immunosuppression", and related topics.


RESULTS
MVTx has been the optimal therapy for the intestine with liver failure and/or failure of several other organs, despite many difficulties in preventing rejection and infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Further study is needed to improve the long-term survival of recipients and reduce the complications.
Mao
Qi
Q
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing 210002, China.
Li
You-Sheng
YS
Li
Jie-Shou
JS
D004386:Duodenum / Q000637:transplantation; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000639:trends; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000639:trends*; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000639:trends; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D013154:Spleen / Q000637:transplantation; D013270:Stomach / Q000637:transplantation; D013997:Time Factors; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance; D016896:Treatment Outcome