Transplants in teens

Article Outline

• Copyright

Advances in surgical care and immunosuppression have advanced pediatric solid organ transplantation significantly in the past decade. Perhaps not surprisingly, the bulk of studies on pediatric transplantation have continued to address these topics. Transplantation is also an undertaking that has a profound effect on nearly every aspect of a child's life. Teenagers, who are already going through the many changes implicit in adolescence, could be particularly challenged by the demands of organ transplantation.

In the current issue of The Journal, a group from the Centre for Kidney Research in Australia undertook a systematic review of qualitative studies that addressed the experiences of adolescents with organ transplantation. The group found that the voluminous transplant literature only included 18 studies that met their criteria of being qualitative and dealing explicitly with adolescent experiences. The review identified a number of themes that should resonate well with physicians caring for such teenagers. The impact on identity and family functioning, as well as developing social adjustment, were among these. Although these are issues for any teen with a chronic disease, the unique demands of transplantation make them even more compelling in this setting.

Article page 542▸