Psychiatric aspects of organ transplantation in critical care

Intensive care unit teams are a critical part of the solid organ transplant process. The psychosocial issues involved during critical periods of transplantation are important for intensive care physicians and clinicians to understand to provide comprehensive care to transplant patients. This article provides a brief overview of transplant epidemiology, followed by a review of the psychosocial issues relevant to the phases of the transplant process. Considered are the pretransplant evaluation phase, psychiatric disorders in transplant patients, and cognitive impairments and delirium with additional issues specific to particular organs. Also covered are the side effects of immunosuppressive medications and special issues arising with living donors.