Slovenija-transplant

Organ and tissue transplantation is a treatment method aimed at restoring certain functions of the human body by the transfer of a part of the donor’s body into the body of the recipient. The process of transplantation is inseparably linked with the process of organ donation, where the donor, while still alive or after death, donates a body part for the purpose of transplantation. The person who receives a part of the donor’s body for therapeutic purposes is called the recipient. Organ and tissue donation is possible only with the prior consent to donation, given by the donor signing the donor statement while still alive, or by the donor’s family consenting to donation after the donor’s death.

Donation and transplantation of organs, tissues and cells is founded on the principles of voluntary and unpaid donation, altruism, professionalism, efficiency, ethics, and transparency.

In Slovenia, it is possible to donate the following organs: heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas. Tissues and cells that can be donated include corneas, skin, bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, haematopoietic stem cells, blood cells, heart valves, and vessels.

Deceased organ donation
Living donation

Modern medicine accepts brain death, defined as the final and irreversible cessation of function of the entire brain (both hemispheres and the brainstem), as the death of an individual. The functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems in a brain-dead patient can be artificially maintained. Brain death occurs as a consequence of the cessation of blood flow through the brain or prolonged shortage of oxygen supply to the brain. The most frequent causes of brain death are cerebral haemorrhage, serious brain injury, stroke, malignant intracranial tumours, and ischaemic brain damage.

The method of determining brain death is laid down by a special regulation, which defines the medical criteria, procedure, structure of the appropriate commission, and the clinical tests that must be performed to establish the diagnosis. For the definitive diagnosis, an ancillary investigation is usually required to demonstrate the cessation of intracranial blood flow (EEG, perfusion scintigraphy, CT angiography, transcranial US).

Organ donation after brain death can take place only once brain death has been unequivocally demonstrated. For organ and tissue donation after death, prior consent must be obtained in a legally prescribed form from either the donor while still alive, or from the donor’s family after the donor’s confirmed brain death. Organ retrieval surgery is conducted as a surgical procedure for which the same requirements must be fulfilled as for any other operation. The only visible mark after organ donation is the surgical incision. The entire donation process is carried out with respect, safeguarding the dignity of the donor and the family of the deceased.

Living donation is defined as donation to a person with whom the donor is genetically or emotionally related. The risk to the donor’s health must remain within medically acceptable limits. To prevent abuse, each case of living donation is considered separately by the Transplant Ethics Committee.

The only organs that can be donated during lifetime are a kidney, a lung, and parts of the liver, pancreas and bowel. The tissues and cells that can be donated while alive include skin, blood, and haematopoietic stem cells (bone marrow).

Schematic presentation of organ donation and transplantation

History of transplantation activities in Slovenia

1952

The first cornea transplant is performed in Slovenia.

Corneas are currently transplanted in three centres: Ljubljana, Maribor and Novo mesto.

1969

A Tissue Typing Laboratory, headed by Prof. Mateja Bohinc, is set up in the national Blood Transfusion Centre.

1970

The first successful kidney transplant is performed in the University Medical Centre (UMC) Ljubljana; the kidney was removed from an HLA-compatible living donor.

1985

The first national transplant law comes into force in the former Yugoslavia.

1986

A brain death determination protocol is adopted, which opens the way for organ transplantation from brain dead donors.

The first deceased donor kidney is transplanted.

1988

First bone marrow removal for autologous stem cell transplantation.

1989

First autologous stem cell transplantation, and first related allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

A national registry of unrelated haematopoietic stem cell donors, Slovenia Donor, is established. The registry, operated by the Tissue Typing Laboratory, still functions at present.

1990

First successful heart and pancreas transplants in Slovenia, performed in UMC Ljubljana.

With the accelerated development of transplantation activities, there emerged a need for better organisation and closer surveillance of donation and transplantation services.

1992

Expert Advisory Committee for Transplantation is established. The Committee, chaired by Jasna Vončina, MD, sets up the national transplant network and organizes 24-hour coordination of activities.

1995

First liver transplantation in Slovenia, carried out by a team of Slovenian surgeons led by Dr Belghiti from France.

1997

A 24-hour coordination service for transplantation activity with administrative support is set up.

1998

The transplantation service is transformed into a transplant centre, run within the Division of Surgery, UMC Ljubljana.

The national donor network is launched, with the official appointment of hospital transplant coordinators in donor hospitals across Slovenia.

First independent liver transplantation in Slovenia, performed by a team of Slovenian abdominal surgeons and gastroenterologists, unassisted by a foreign specialist.

2000

Slovenia meets requirements for full membership in Eurotransplant, and a cooperation agreement is signed between Eurotransplant and the UMC Ljubljana.

2002

Slovenia Transplant is founded, and a new cooperation agreement is signed between Eurotransplant and Slovenia Transplant.

Organ and tissue donation and transplantation are processes that are inseparably connected with one another. Transplantation is a surgical procedure whereby a damaged organ is replaced with a healthy one recovered from a deceased or living donor. For patients with irreversibly damaged organs as a consequence of various diseases, in whom all other treatment options have been exhausted, organ transplantation represents the only effective treatment method.

INSTITUTE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR THE TRANSPLANTATION OF ORGANS AND TISSUES
SLOVENIJA-TRANSPLANT

About organ donation