The Brotzu of Cagliari is preparing to greet 2023 with a positive balance for transplants . There are 60 performed in total, of which 26 kidney, 26 liver, 6 heart and 2 combined liver - kidney. Numbers that bode well for the future and which, when compared to the 56 last year, show a step forward.

« 35 years have passed since the first kidney transplant , which was carried out at the San Michele hospital in 1988. Since then we have come a long way, guided by a single purpose: to give answers to patients», comments the General Director of Arnas, Agnese Foddis who presented the data during the work of the training and in-depth event promoted by the National Federsanità, in collaboration with the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Ares Sardegna and the Universities of Cagliari and Sassari, which was held in Porto Cervo on Friday and Saturday. And the results of Arnas Brotzu – as Foddis underlines – «come thanks to the effort of all the healthcare and administrative staff who work in the centers directed by Dr. Solinas, Dr. Zamboni and Dr. Cirio».

A "plus" sign also for the generosity of the Sardinians which - as explained by the local transplant coordinator of Brotzu, Dr. Antonio Manti - «has led to a significant increase , equal to 42% compared to the previous year , in reports of potential donors. The consequence was a greater availability of organs , which contributed to reducing waiting times on the list and which in any case requires an adequate implementation of potential recipients." As Manti reminds us, however, «the donation-transplant system is included in a national program. It includes the obligation to hand over the organ to the emergency center, and a corresponding obligation to provide the same type of organ at the first available opportunity." And this allows Sardinians to benefit from organs coming from beyond the Tyrrhenian Sea and the recipient citizens of the Peninsula to be able to lead a new life thanks to Sardinian donors.

The organs taken in Sardinia can therefore be transplanted off-site for various reasons : for example the clinical conditions of the recipient at the time of the transplant call , the evaluation of the organ in relation to the characteristics of the recipient, the characteristics of the organ which make the risk/benefit ratio in relation to possible complications. In the current year, 20 kidneys were included in the national circuit, but 13 were declared unsuitable (therefore not transplantable by all centers) and 5 were not transplanted on the island due to lack of recipients. As for the liver, 6 were sold to other centers outside Sardinia as part of the national emergency program. The Brotzu Liver Transplant Center has yet to receive 2 organs to replace the ones that were sold.

For the regional network, the ultimate goal remains that of implementing possible recipients so that the opportunity for transplantation materializes for all Sardinian citizens suffering from serious organ failure. For this reason, a Regional Technical Table was created in 2022, coordinated by Prof. Antonello Pani, Director of the Nephrology Division of Arnas Brotzu, to find solutions to the critical issues regarding registration on the waiting list for kidney transplants for nephropathic. «We can already talk about the first results – adds Dr. Manti –. For example, it was decided that for each nephrology/dialysis center in the Region that takes care of patients to be registered on the transplant waiting list, a delegate will be indicated. The establishment of a pre-emptive clinic has also been established at the Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Division of Arnas Brotzu which collaborates with the Coordinators for problems relating to the study of nephropathic patients to be included in the active list. Another important objective achieved is the activation of confidential and priority agendas for ultra-specialist tests and visits for kidney patients being studied for kidney transplantation. The trend towards improvement is therefore evident, confirmed by the presence of 28 new members on the waiting list in 2022 and 36 this year".

After the transplant, the patient must face a subsequent process, with post-operative control activities. These are guaranteed by an exclusive urological clinic in which 2 dedicated doctors work. Approximately 550 people are cared for by the liver, liver-pancreas and isolated pancreas transplant service, which provides over 2000 outpatient services every year.

(Unioneonline/vf)

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