Download PDF
J Reconstr Microsurg 2012; 28(01): 03-06
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1285823
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Establishing a Composite Tissue Allotransplantation Program

Bohdan Pomahac
1   Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

14 June 2010

11 March 2011

Publication Date:
02 August 2011 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) has emerged as a promising surgical option to restore the form and function of missing or severely damaged structures such as the face, hands, or trachea. Currently, there are four active CTA programs in the United States and numerous others under development. The process of development of a CTA program in the United States involves successful collaboration between a strong project leader with vested clinical research interest, a multidisciplinary team of investigators, an Institutional Review Board, a regional Organ Processing Organization (PO), and the hospital's administration. The process of establishment of a CTA program can be slow and lengthy, therefore the project leader must strive to maintain the enthusiasm alive and drive the project forward. At all phases of development, the project must remain focused on the patients, must recognize and address all potential patient safety issues, must take into account the concerns, issues and logistic hurdles faced by the OPO, and must be financially responsible by ensuring that postoperative costs related to medical care and life-long immunosuppression are covered by medical insurance. This article describes the process of establishment of a CTA program at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA with special emphasis on strategy and planning.

Keywords

composite tissue allotransplantation - composite tissue allotransplantation program - face transplantation - hand transplantation
 

  • References

  • 1 Dubernard JM, Owen E, Herzberg G , et al. [The first transplantation of a hand in humans. Early results]. Chirurgie 1999; 124 (4) 358-365 , discussion 365–367
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Devauchelle B, Badet L, Lengelé B , et al. First human face allograft: early report. Lancet 2006; 368 (9531) 203-209
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Kanter R. Leadership for change: enduring skills for change masters Harvard Business Reviews. 2005; 1-16
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Pomahac B, Aflaki P, Nelson C, Balas B. Evaluation of appearance transfer and persistence in central face transplantation: a computer simulation analysis. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2010; 63 (5) 733-738
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Aflaki P, Nelson C, Balas B, Pomahac B. Simulated central face transplantation: age consideration in matching donors and recipients. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2010; 63 (3) e283-e285
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar