TRANSPLANTATION OF VASCULARIZED COMPOSITE ALLOGRAFTS. REVIEW OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE

Transplantation in reconstructive surgery has been performed for more than 20 years, although the official beginning of these procedures is considered the first successful transplantation of the hand in 1998. The original name "Composite Tissue Transplantation" has been used less frequently; more common is the term "Vascularized Composite Allotransplant", which better describes the basis of the procedure. There have been so far approximately 180 transplantations performed, the exact number is difficult to find. The most known transplantation from this group include transplantation of the hand and face, the other, such as transplantation of the abdominal wall, joints, bones, trachea, larynx, tongue, penis, uterus, etc. are less common and less well known. The common characteristics is that they are not used for salvage or prolongation of life, but to improve its quality. The quality of life is a value, which cannot be objectively measured and the opinions regarding its importance significantly differ. Therefore there is still an unsolved ethical issue regarding these procedures, which is based on the justification to use immunosuppressive therapy with its serious risks in cases when the procedure is not needed for salvage or preservation of life.