J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 99(11): 749-753, 1998

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Feature topic

PRESENT AND FUTURE OF HEART TRANSPLANTATION IN JAPAN AND THE WORLD

During the past 31 years, cardiac transplantation has emerged as a standard mode of therapy for patients with end-stage congestive heart failure. At present, cardiac transplantation offers dramatically improved prospects for survival and rehabilitation in properly selected patients. The shortage of donor organs is the most common problem facing organ transplantation today. Despite widespread public education programs, the number of organ donors has leveled off at approximately 5,500 per year worldwide. More than 80％ of patients in need of a heart, kidney, or liver allograft fail to receive the needed organ. Extensive research on the use of porcine xenografts as alternatives to allografts has been conducted since the 1980s. In this paper, the prospects for organ transplantation are reviewed.

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