Transplant
A transplant is the replacement of a patient's diseased organ(s) with a normal organ(s) from someone called a donor. The donor's organ(s) is completely removed and quickly transported to the patient, who may be located across the country. Organs are cooled and kept in a special solution while being taken to the patient.
After a transplant, patients must take several medications. The most important are those to keep the body from rejecting the transplant. These medications, which must be taken for life, can cause significant side effects, including hypertension, fluid retention, tremors, excessive hair growth, and possible kidney damage. To combat these problems, additional drugs are often prescribed.
Research in the field of transplantations involves studies on the techniques used for transplantation and of the medications used to treat transplant patients.
