How to Research Transplant Surgery

Transplant surgery is a branch of surgery that refers to the surgical replacement of a non-functioning or diseased organ in the body with one that came from an individual who just died or from a living donor.
The main goal of transplant surgery is to give the patient another shot at life by removing the organ that caused the patient to fall ill in the first place. Because this type of procedure is risky, it can only be performed by surgeons who specialize in this area of medicine.
If you or a loved one is suffering from an illness that requires transplant surgery, you'll want to learn more about this procedure to know what to expect.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet connection
• Telephone

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Instructions

Instructions

• 1

  Talk to your family physician. The best way to start research on transplant surgery is to make a stop at your family doctor or the specialist who is handling the patient's case. Ask questions about your condition and why you think you may be a good candidate for transplant surgery. It's also a good idea to understand the risks involved in the process. Your doctor should be able to give you an overview of the entire procedure.

• 2

  Search the Internet for relevant information. The Internet offers a wealth of information about organ transplants. It will give you practically everything that you want to know about certain procedures, even the latest technologies surrounding organ transplant surgery. The resources at the bottom of this article will help you get a head start with your search.

• 3

  Participate in support groups in your community. Make phone calls and contact friends who may know support groups for families of patients about to undergo organ transplant. You'll likely get a lot of useful information on the emotional aspect of coping with the procedure and how you can help the patient recover.

• 4

  Through your doctor, you can contact other patients who have gone through the same ordeal. To get a first-person account of undergoing transplant surgery, you may also try talking to patients who are recovering or who have recovered from the same illness. This will give you an idea on how to handle potential problems.

• 5

  Visit the local library. Your local library or a university library may be able to provide you with reference materials such as books and medical journals that can help you understand more about the procedure.