Current status and future perspective in donor managements of clinical deceased donor intestinal transplant in Japan

Abstract

Results of intestinal transplantation(ITx)have been improving in recent years and ITx is now established as a therapeutic option for patients with severe intestinal failure. As of June 2012, 24ITxs have been performed for 21 patients in Japan. Twelve were deceased donor and 12 were living donor transplants. Fifteen of 21 patients are currently alive after ITx. Relatively few ITxs have been performed to date, mainly due to the lack of national insurance coverage for the procedure and shortage of the organ donation from pediatric cadaveric donors even after the revision of the Organ Transplant Law in Japan. This article reviews current status and future perspective in donor managements of clinical ITx on the basis of our experience and recent publications.