Siirdama

In Estonian, siirdama is the verb meaning to transplant. It denotes the act of transferring organs, tissues, or cells from a donor to a recipient to restore function or replace damaged material. Siirdama encompasses organ transplantation (such as kidney, liver, heart, or lung), tissue transplantation (such as cornea, bone, or skin), and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Transplants may be autografts, where tissue comes from the same person, allografts between different individuals of the same species, or xenografts from another species, though xenotransplantation raises particular immunological and regulatory challenges.

Before a transplant is performed, donor evaluation and consent, recipient assessment, and matching for compatibility are conducted. For many solid organ transplants, compatibility and crossmatching influence success, while living donors undergo extensive medical and psychological screening. After transplantation, recipients require immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection and careful follow-up to monitor organ function, detect complications, and manage infections or drug side effects.

History and development: The first successful kidney transplant occurred in 1954 between identical twins, a milestone that spurred advances in surgical technique and immunosuppression. Subsequent developments, including the introduction of corticosteroids and azathioprine in the mid-20th century and later cyclosporine, substantially improved graft survival and patient outcomes.

Ethical and regulatory aspects: Organ donation systems rely on consent, allocation frameworks, and equity considerations. Public awareness, donor availability, and regulatory oversight shape access to siirdama, while long-term medication costs and potential complications influence decision-making for patients and health systems.

Siirdama remains a dynamic field, with ongoing research aimed at expanding donor pools, improving graft longevity, reducing rejection, and exploring regenerative approaches such as bioengineered tissues.