líffæraágræðslu

Líffæraígræðsla is the Icelandic term for organ transplantation. It is a medical procedure that involves replacing a diseased or damaged organ with a healthy one from another person, known as a donor. This life-saving procedure is used to treat organ failure, where the patient's own organ is no longer able to perform its essential functions.

The most commonly transplanted organs include kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, and pancreases. Kidneys are the most frequently transplanted organ worldwide due to the high incidence of kidney disease and the availability of dialysis as a temporary treatment. Heart transplants are performed for end-stage heart failure, while lung transplants are for severe lung diseases. Liver transplants can treat a variety of liver conditions, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Pancreas transplants are often performed for individuals with type 1 diabetes who also have kidney failure.

Organ donation can come from deceased donors or living donors. Deceased donors are individuals who have been declared brain dead but whose organs are still viable for transplantation. Living donation is possible for certain organs, such as a kidney or a lobe of the liver, where the donor can live a healthy life with the remaining organ or part of the organ. Strict criteria are in place to ensure the safety of both the donor and the recipient.

Following a transplant, recipients require lifelong immunosuppressive medication to prevent their immune system from rejecting the new organ. This medication helps to balance the body's natural defense mechanisms with the need to accept the foreign tissue. Despite advances in surgical techniques and immunosuppression, organ transplantation remains a complex medical process with potential risks and long-term management challenges.