Transplantation in Turkey

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• The history of organ transplantation in Turkey began with the first living-related renal transplant in 1975.
• Key legislative and procedural milestones, including the organ transplantation law in 1979 and the establishment of the National Coordination Center in 2001, have shaped the field.

Observation:

• Pioneering procedures include the first deceased donor kidney transplant (1978), first cadaveric liver transplant (1988), and first pediatric living-related segmental liver transplant in Europe (1990).
• The first combined living-related liver-kidney transplant was performed in 1992.
• As of the report, 20,794 kidney and 6,565 liver transplants have been performed nationwide.

Findings:

• Turkey has a significant history of transplantation milestones, with a substantial number of kidney and liver transplants performed.
• Transplantation activities are increasing, yet the rate of deceased donors remains a critical challenge.

Implications:

• Continued efforts are needed to increase deceased donor rates to meet the growing demand for organ transplantation in Turkey.
• The advancements highlight Turkey's capacity for complex surgical procedures and its growing role in solid organ transplantation.