Transplantation in the military: state of the art--a progress report from the Army-Navy Transplant Program

The commitment to clinical transplantation services by the Army and Navy is now in its third decade. Located at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Army-Navy Organ Transplant Service has been staffed and led by some of the most prominent transplant surgeons in America. Military beneficiaries are eligible for evaluation and care regardless of their geographic assignment or residence. Principally a renal transplant clinical service, the Organ Transplant Service also gives support to patients with heart, liver, and pancreas grafts. Organs for transplant are largely (85%) from the civilian sector, although the Department of Defense has officially encouraged organ donation. Research, scientific publication, protocol development, teaching, and interaction with reserve components have been major facets of the Organ Transplant Service. Clinical outcome in renal transplantation at the Army-Navy Unit is comparable to that at the best civilian units: 2-year graft and patient survival 81% and 98%, respectively. These superior clinical results and the major roles that the Army-Navy Transplant Service have played make continued support and expansion of military transplantation compelling.