Organ transplantations

Transplantation is a procedure in which a whole organ or part of an organ is transplanted into a patient's body. Organ  is a differentiated part of human body  formed by different tissues that maintains its structure, vascularization and specific function.

A healthy organ will maintain its function. Transplantation is indicated when a patient needs an organ to replace a nonfunctioning organ (renal transplantation) or in end stage organ failure with poor quality of life  or the patient's life is at risk.

In Finland, all kind of transplantations are performed at the Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH). Transplantations in adult patients are performed at Meilahti Tower Hospital, while children are treated at the Children's Hospital.

Depending on the number of organ donors, from 240 to 310 kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas and intestinal organ transplantations and also some islet cell transplantations are yearly performed at HUCH. Kidney transplantations are the most common transplantations. In the Nordic countries, intestinal transplantations are performed only in Helsinki and Gothenburg, Sweden.

A well-organised organ procurement system is essential for successful transplantation program. In Finland, this is achieved by close collaboration between HUCH and the other university and central hospitals which have an important role in identification of brain-death donors and taking care for them before organs are retrieved. HUCH transplant surgeons perform all organ retrievals and transplantation operations.