Cuestiones interdisciplinares iltrapianto degli argani

Abstract

Organ transplants do not constitute the point of arrival of bio-medical research. but rather a point of departure aimed at successive accomplishments at base research level or at the level of clinical applications. Those who considered transplants to be only a surgical task destined to slow down due to a lack of adequate immuno-biological knowledge have been surprised by the renewed vitality of this sector and by the amount of new adquisitions reached during these last few years. The results achieved in the branch of kidney transplants are a clear demonstration of this therapeutic reality. The substitution of other organs. on the other hand. is still clearly a problem today. but looking ahead ten years, however, we can perceive the development trend in this regard. Artificial organs, both temporary or definitive, intra-corporeal or extracorporeal, partially biological such as the liver or completely artificial, are being studied at an increasingly intensive pace and depth. After the first results -which have been deceiving- we now have word of positive results in the branch of liver and heart substitution. In this manner the complex sector of research on lung transplant -although still full of problems yet to be solved- sparks the interest of researchers who are endowed with a spirit of service and perseverence. Modern surgery has to be receptive to the adquisition of a greater amount of data facilitated by immuno-biological, physiopathological and pharmacological research, and integrated by the findings of bio-engineering, which are indispensible at the present moment. Such a task represents the updating of this sector, and includes the results achieved by sorne of the most important research centres in the world. This task. therefore, also constitutes an updating for all those who are interested in this new type of surgery.