Intestinal Transplantation (ITx): “Who, when and how?”a general overview

Abstract

Organ transplantation has become a substantial part of modern medicine. Intestinal transplantation (ITx) was introduced in the late sixties as a heroic procedure to treat intestinal failure. The Clinic Hospital of University of Sao Paulo Medical School is one of the world’s pioneer in this procedure. With the biotechnological evolution in medicine, intestinal transplantation emerged in the 1990s as the only curative, permanent therapeutic option for patients with irreversible intestinal failure. At that time, the clinical results were also disappointing mainly due to the high rates of post-operative infectious complications and graft rejection. However, the development of intestinal and multivisceral transplantation has been profound owing to the progress in immunosuppressive therapy, refinement of surgical techniques and post-transplant care. This study aims to give a general overview about when the ITx must be considered an option of treatment and how it must be done.