title: Helping hands: caring for the upper extremity transplant patient.
abstract: Caring for upper extremity transplant recipients can offer challenges and opportunities to nursing staff in combining new patient procedures, new technologies, and complex patient care needs including unique physical care, monitoring and observation, rehabilitation expectations, and psychiatric/psychosocial support. Medical professionals continue to be apprehensive about the risks of immunosuppressive therapy and the possibility of acute and chronic rejection. The sustained development and research into reliable, reduced-dose immunosuppression or immunomodulatory strategies could expand the life-enhancing benefits of reconstructive transplantation.
authors: UPMC Presbyterian, 200 Lothrop Street, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. lovasikdj@upmc.edu
authors: Darlene
authors: D
authors: Lovasik
authors: Daniel E
authors: DE
authors: Foust
authors: Joseph E
authors: JE
authors: Losee
authors: W P Andrew
authors: WP
authors: Lee
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Brandacher
authors: Vijay S
authors: VS
authors: Gorantla
mesh_terms: D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy; D063987:Hand Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000451:nursing*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents