Composite tissue transplantation: a new era in transplantation surgery

Once belonging to science fiction, face transplantation is a clinical reality now. The controversial first face transplantation in Amiens, France in 2005 was followed by significant ethical debate among physicians, surgeons, scientists and bioethicists. The controversies are being followed by cautious optimism and acceptance. An increasing number of surgical teams are developing protocols of composite tissue transplantation. Twenty five years after the birth of the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM) and during its 25th anniversary, the founding meeting of American Society of Reconstructive Transplantation (ASRT) took place in 2009 to officially introduce the birth of a new field that combines the two disciplines: transplantation and reconstructive microsurgery. It appears that the field of composite tissue allotransplantation will continue to grow for at least several years before more sophisticated means of replacing the damaged tissues become available. This article takes a brief look at the evolution of organ transplantation and reflects our viewpoint regarding the emerging field of composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA).