Transplant surgery is the surgical sub-specialty that surgically replaces an organ that is no longer functioning with an organ from a donor that does function. Organs are donated by living and deceased donors in order to save the life of a recipient.
There are many types of transplants in the medical specialties; however, transplant surgery is the only division of surgery that is concerned with organs. Other surgical specialties such as orthopedics use human tissue to repair injuries and defects. However that is not considered “transplant surgery” but the use of a “tissue transplant”.
Several transplant surgeries are done in Puerto Rico, including kidney, kidney-pancreas and liver transplantation.
Transplant surgeons care for the patient prior to their transplant, and continue to care for the patient after transplant surgery, including immunological management.
Dr. Eduardo Santiago-Delpín
Division Director