Consult Online with Best Stem Cell Therapy

A transplant surgeon has special training in transplantation surgery which involves replacing a patient's organ with a donor organ. A transplant surgeon performs transplants of various organs, such as kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, the pancreas, the intestine, and recently tracheal tissue, faces, and the penis.

A transplant surgeon first does a general surgical evaluation of the patient to assess the possible risks and also evaluate the benefits of transplant surgery. They may consult the case with other doctors from multiple disciplines nephrologists, hepatologists, diabetologists, immunologists, and scientists before making any decision about the surgery and the approach for the surgery. The surgeon not just assesses the patient before the examination but also after the transplant surgery is completed and the patient is discharged.

The training and education received by a transplant surgeon are extensive. The education starts with a five-and-a-half-year MBBS course after completion of high school. After gaining this degree, the student then obtains MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school. During this period, the student is trained in basic medical care in both clinical and classroom settings. After completing medical school, the student needs to complete a residency program in general surgery.

Residencies in general surgery typically last five years and consist of a curriculum of clinical rotations in a wide range of surgical disciplines. The physician is trained in the different caveats of surgery including complex general surgical oncology, vascular operations, critical care, trauma management, transplant surgery, hand surgery as well as pediatric surgery. Residents in general surgery also do daily interaction with patients to improve their communication skills.

After completion of the residency program, the doctor must then complete fellowship training in transplant surgery. They are trained as well as educated in all the areas of transplant surgery with a focus on pathology, physiology, immunology, and anatomy specifically related to diagnoses and treatments of the final stages of organ failure and diseases. The surgeon will get specialized training in surgical transplantation of organs, and any related procedures that might be necessary when completing a transplant. Physicians also have exposure to operations like liver and kidney transplants, which are two of the most common in the discipline.

Organ transplantation is used if a patient is suffering from a very critical condition or is facing an organ failure. Such patients are mostly suggested to have a transplant so that their affected organ is replaced with a healthy, functioning organ. Below are some of the common conditions which are treated by an organ transplant surgeon.

• Congenital renal obstructive disorders
• Congenital nephrotic syndrome
• Alport syndrome
• Nephropathic and juvenile cystinosis
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Nail-patella syndrome
• Glomerulonephritis
• Berger disease
• Henoch-schönlein purpura
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Wegener granulomatosis
• Goodpasture syndrome
• Leukemias
• Severe aplastic anemia
• Lymphomas
• Multiple myeloma
• Immune deficiency disorders
• Some solid-tumor cancers
• Severe cystic fibrosis
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Sarcoidosis, histiocytosis, and lymphangioleiomyomatosis
• Congenital heart defect
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Ventricular arrhythmias
• Heart valve disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Liver cancer, hepatitis C, HIV

Regardless of the type of transplant you may undergo, special blood tests and other diagnostic tests are performed to know if you are fit for a transplant. Blood tests are also needed to determine the kind of tissue and blood you have. These test results help to match a donor kidney to your body.

• Blood Type Testing
• Human leukocyte antigens (tissue typing)
• MVO2 (exercise stress test)
• Chest x-ray
• Pulmonary function tests
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram
• Heart catheterization
• Bilateral lower extremity Doppler, carotid Doppler
• Ultrasound of the abdomen/pelvis
• Pulmonary Function Tests
• Radiographic Studies (X-rays)
• Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)
• Ventilation Perfusion Scan (V/Q Scan, Lung Scan)
• Electrocardiogram
• Echocardiogram
• Radionuclide Ventriculography
• Colonoscopy
• Chest X-ray, PET scan, heart tests, and a bone marrow biopsy

There are a number of reasons why you should visit a transplant surgeon.Transplantation is not a common procedure and might be recommended in case of critical conditions or organ failure.Your primary will refer you see a transplant surgeon if you experience the below-listed symptoms:

• Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• Congenital heart defects
• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
• High blood pressure in the lungs
• Viral infection of the heart muscle
• High blood pressure
• Oximeter (O2) measurements of less than 90% at movement
• Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) of 60% or less
• Results of your CT scan
• Jaundice
• Enlarged liver
• Cholestasis
• Heart valve disease
• Shortness of breath, fatigue
• Dizziness, fainting,
• Arterial blood gas of 60mlhg at rest
• End-stage renal disease
• Aplastic anemia
• Leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma
• Damaged bone marrow due to chemotherapy

A transplant surgeon will evaluate your health condition to know if you are fit for transplant. The doctor will ask you a few questions related to your symptoms to know the severity of the health condition you are suffering from. They will order a few diagnostic tests to do a complete analysis of the consequences of transplant if any. If the transplant surgeon finds that transplant can have a harmful effect on your health, they will recommend alternative treatment options or will tell you to wait for some time so that you become fit for the transplant.

In addition to tests and physical exams, you could get a lot of information at your first appointment. You may need to bring a family member or friend along with you. The person you bring can help ask questions, listen, and take notes.

Some common procedures performed by a transplant surgeon are listed below:

• Skin transplant
• Vascular tissues transplant
• Skin graft
• Blood vessel graft
• Bone graft
• Bone marrow graft
• Heart transplant
• Lung transplant
• Liver transplant
• Pancreas transplant
• Cornea transplant
• Trachea transplant
• Kidney transplant