Ethical frontiers in liver transplantation

Liver transplantation represents a pivotal intervention in the management of end-stage liver disease,offering a lifeline to countless patients.Despite significant strides in surgical techniques and organ procurement,ethical dilemmas and de-bates continue to underscore this life-saving procedure.Navigating the ethical terrain surrounding this complex procedure is hence paramount.Dissecting the nuances of ethical principles of justice,autonomy and beneficence that underpin transplant protocols worldwide,we explore the modern challenges that plaques the world of liver transplantation.We investigate the ethical dimensions of organ transplantation,focusing on allocation,emerging technologies,and decision-making processes.PubMed,Scopus,Web of Science,Embase and Central were searched from database inception to February 29,2024 using the following key-words:“liver transplant”,“transplantation”,“liver donation”,“liver recipient”,“organ donation”and“ethics”.Information from relevant articles surrounding ethical discussions in the realm of liver transplantation,especially with regards to organ recipients and allocation,organ donation,transplant tourism,new age technologies and developments,were extracted.From the definition of death to the long term follow up of organ recipients,liver transplantation has many ethical quandaries.With new transplant techniques,societal acceptance and perceptions also play a pivotal role.Cultural,religious and regional factors including but not limited to beliefs,wealth and accessibility are extremely influential in public at-titudes towards donation,xenotransplantation,stem cell research,and adopting artificial intelligence.Understanding and addressing these perspectives whilst upholding bioethical principles is essential to ensure just distribution and fair allocation of resources.Robust regulatory oversight for ethical sourcing of organs,ensuring good patient selection and transplant techniques,and high-quality long-term surveillance to mitigate risks is essential.Efforts to promote equitable access to transplantation as well as prioritizing patients with true needs are essential to address disparities.In conclusion,liver transplantation is often the beacon of hope for individuals suffering from end-stage liver disease and improves quality of life.The ethics related to transplantation are complex and multifaceted,considering not just the donor and the recipient,but also the society as a whole.

Ethical issues in penile transplantation

This article provides an overview of the ethical issues associated with penile transplantation, a form of composite tissue allografting. There is only one reported case of human penile transplantation, and, as such, this technique is considered to be experimental. The ethical issues at stake involve both the graft donor and the graft recipient. With regard to the recipient, there are significant concerns relating to surgical risks and benefits, informed consent, body image （including surgical expectations and outcomes） and compliance. Donor issues may include family consent and privacy, as well as graft harvesting （leaving the donor cadaver without a penis）. Many of these ethical issues can be explored during the recipient＇s assessment and consent process. Because no medium-term or long-term outcome data for this procedure exist---only one such operation has ever been performed--the burdens and ethical issues concerning penile transplantation remain unknown.

Current perspectives on the role of liver transplantation for Langerhans cell histiocytosis:A narrative review

Langerhans cell histiocytosis(LCH)is a malignant disease of the histiocytes involving various organ systems.The spectrum of liver involvement in LCH ranges from mild transaminitis to end-stage liver disease.The hallmark of hepatic LCH is secondary sclerosing cholangitis,which manifests due to a progressive destruction of the biliary tree by malignant histiocytes.Chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for active LCH.Early recognition,diagnosis and a systematic approach to the management of LCH can ameliorate the disease process.Nonetheless,the liver involvement in these patients may progress despite the LCH being in remission.Liver transplantation(LT)remains central in the management of such patients.Various facets of the management of LCH,especially those with liver involvement remain unclear.Furthermore,aspects of LT in LCH with regards to the indication,timing and post-LT management,including immunosuppression and adjuvant therapy,remain undefined.This review summarises the current evidence and discusses the practical aspects of the role of LT in the management of LCH.

Medical,ethical,and legal aspects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Crohn’s disease in Brazil

Crohn's disease(CD)is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract.The etiology of CD is unknown;however,genetic,epigenetic,environmental,and lifestyle factors could play an essential role in the onset and establishment of the disease.CD results from immune dysregulation due to loss of the healthy symbiotic relationship between host and intestinal flora and or its antigens.It affects both sexes equally with a male to female ratio of 1.0,and its onset can occur at any age,but the diagnosis is most commonly observed in the range of 20 to 40 years of age.CD diminishes quality of life,interferes with social activities,traumatizes due to the stigma of incontinence,fistulae,strictures,and colostomies,and in severe cases,affects survival when compared to the general population.Symptoms fluctuate between periods of remission and activity in which complications such as fistulas,strictures,and the need for bowel resection,surgery,and colostomy implantation make up the most severe aspects of the disease.CD can be progressive and the complications recurrent despite treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs,corticosteroids,immunosuppressants,and biological agents.However,over time many patients become refractory without treatment alternatives,and in this scenario,hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)has emerged as a potential treatment option.The rationale for the use of HSCT for CD is anchored in animal studies and human clinical trials where HSCT could reset a patient's immune system by eliminating disease-causing effector cells and upon immune recovery increase regulatory and suppressive immune cells.Autologous HSCT using a non-myeloablative regimen of cyclophosphamide and anti-thymocyte globulin without CD34+selection has been to date the most common transplant conditioning regimen adopted.In this review we will address the current situation regarding CD treatment with HSCT and emphasize the medical,ethical,and legal aspects that permeate the procedure in Brazil.

Pre-emptive live donor kidney transplantation-moving barriers to opportunities:An ethical,legal and psychological aspects of organ transplantation view

Live donor kidney transplantation(LDKT)is the optimal treatment modality for end stage renal disease(ESRD),enhancing patient and graft survival.Pre-emptive LDKT,prior to requirement for renal replacement therapy(RRT),provides further advantages,due to uraemia and dialysis avoidance.There are a number of potential barriers and opportunities to promoting pre-emptive LDKT.Significant infrastructure is needed to deliver robust programmes,which varies based on socio-economic standards.National frameworks can impact on national prioritisation of pre-emptive LDKT and supporting education programmes.Focus on other programme’s components,including deceased kidney transplantation and RRT,can also hamper uptake.LDKT programmes are designed to provide maximal benefit to the recipient,which is specifically true for pre-emptive transplantation.Health care providers need to be educated to maximize early LDKT referral.Equitable access for varying population groups,without socioeconomic bias,also requires prioritisation.Cultural barriers,including religious influence,also need consideration in developing successful outcomes.In addition,the benefit of pre-emptive LDKT needs to be emphasised,and opportunities provided to potential donors,to ensure timely and safe work-up processes.Recipient education and preparation for pre-emptive LDKT needs to ensure increased uptake.Awareness of the benefits of pre-emptive transplantation require prioritisation for this population group.We recommend an approach where patients approaching ESRD are referred early to pre-transplant clinics facilitating early discussion regarding pre-emptive LDKT and potential donors for LDKT are prioritized for work-up to ensure success.Education regarding preemptive LDKT should be the norm for patients approaching ESRD,appropriate for the patient’s cultural needs and physical status.Pre-emptive transplantation maximize benefit to potential recipients,with the potential to occur within successful service delivery.To fully embrace preemptive transplantation as the norm,investment in infrastructure,increased awareness,and donor and recipient support is required.

Media coverage and public awareness on bioethics perception of emerging biomedical therapies

Bioethics falls within the controversial ethical issues from the new advances and emerging technology in pre-clinical and clinical settings which inspired medical policy and practice.The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of ethical issues in stem cell-based therapies and to provide substantial argument for the need ofa Bioethics Research Consortium that will be tasked with convening a disciplined board of experts that will apply their principles to biomedical research,and emerging technology to further stipulate the socioeconomic influence of such entities and their therapeutic impact to society.Not too long ago,the successful therapeutic studies in Parkinson's disease and stroke were the highlights of bioethical issues.The precedent for study selection was based on public feedback,government reception,and scientific analyses developed by these spearhead studies.From all the negative publicity that researchers have been getting before,the whiplash from decades of fear and misunderstanding has hindered the progress of scientific study.There is a huge figurative tug of war between what is making profit and what is needed to improve the health of afflicted patients worldwide.Poor management of education and funding may have actually hindered potential life changing cures and treatments from coming to fruition.We propose the creation of a Bioethics Research Consortium that would determine how ethical matters are handled with careful consideration to public need.The goal is to restructure drug development policy,and improve upon the ways in which research methods and funds are handled today.

Adult to adult living related liver transplantation: Where do we currently stand?

Adult to adult living donor liver transplantation (AALDLT) was first preformed in the United States in 1997. The procedure was rapidly integrated into clinical practice, but in 2002, possibly due to the first widely publicized donor death, the number of living liver donors plummeted. The number of donors has since reached a steady plateau far below its initial peak. In this review we evaluate the current climate of AALDLT. Specifically, we focus on several issues key to the success of AALDLT: determining the optimal indications for AALDLT, balancing graft size and donor safety, assuring adequate outflow, minimizing biliary complications, and maintaining ethical practices. We conclude by offering suggestions for the future of AALDLT in United States transplantation centers.

Split liver transplantation in adults

Split liver transplantation(SLT),while widely accepted in pediatrics,remains underutilized in adults. Advancements in surgical techniques and donor-recipient matching,however,have allowed expansion of SLT from utilization of the right trisegment graft to now include use of the hemiliver graft as well. Despite less favorable outcomes in the early experience,better outcomes have been reported by experienced centers and have further validated the feasibility of SLT. Importantly,more than two decades of experience have identified key requirements for successful SLT in adults. When these requirements are met,SLT can achieve outcomes equivalent to those achieved with other types of liver transplantation for adults. However,substantial challenges,such as surgical techniques,logistics,and ethics,persist as ongoing barriers to further expansion of this highly complex procedure. This review outlines the current state of SLT in adults,focusing on donor and recipient selection based on physiology,surgical techniques,surgical outcomes,and ethical issues.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells accelerate nerve regeneration and functional recovery in a rat model of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury

Medialization thyroplasty or injection laryngoplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis cannot restore mobility of the vocal fold. Recent studies have shown that transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells is effective in the repair of nerve injuries. This study investigated wheth- er adipose-derived stem celt transplantation could repair recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Rat models of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were established by crushing with micro forceps. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells （ADSCs; 8 ×105） or differentiated Schwann-like adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells （dADSCs; 8×105） or extracellular matrix were injected at the site of injury. At 2, 4 and 6 weeks post-surgery, a higher density of myelinated nerve fiber, thicker myelin sheath, improved vocal fold movement, better recovery of nerve conduction capacity and reduced thyroarytenoid muscle atrophy were found in ADSCs and dADSCs groups compared with the extracellu- lar matrix group. The effects were more pronounced in the ADSCs group than in the dADSCs group. These experimental results indicated that ADSCs transplantation could be an early interventional strategy to promote regeneration after recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.

Liver transplantation for critically ill cirrhotic patients:Overview and pragmatic proposals

Liver transplantation for critically ill cirrhotic patients with acute deterioration of liver function associated with extrahepatic organ failures is controversial. While transplantation has been shown to be beneficial on an indivi-dual basis, the potentially poorer post-transplant outcome of these patients taken as a group can be held as an argument against allocating livers to them. Although this issue concerns only a minority of liver transplants, it calls into question the very heart of the allocation paradigms in place. Indeed, most allocation algorithms have been centered on prioritizing the sickest patients by using the model for end-stage liver disease score. This has led to allocating increasing numbers of livers to increasingly critically ill patients without setting objective or consensual limits on how sick patients can be when they receive an organ. Today, finding robust criteria to deem certain cirrhotic patients too sick to be transplanted seems urgent in order to ensure the fairness of our organ allocation protocols. This review starts by fleshing out the argument that finding such criteria is essential. It examines five types of difficulties that have hindered the progress of recent literature on this issue and identifies various strategies that could be followed to move forward on this topic, taking into account the recent discussion on acute on chronic liver failure. We move on to review the literature along four axes that could guide clinicians in their decision-making process regarding transplantation of critically ill cirrhotic patients.

Ethical tensions in solid organ transplantation: The price of success

Solid organ transplantation has rapidly developed into the therapy a choice for end-stage organ failure. The expansion of its use has resulted is a large deficiency in organ supply. To address this, the field of organ transplantation has attempted to develop new strategies that would increase the availability of organs for transplant. Some of these strategies include expansion of the donor pool by increasing the number of living donors or using deceased donor organs that may be marginal or ＂expanded＂ The intent is to bring life-saving therapy to individuals in need; however, much of this expansion has been brought forward without clear prospective guidelines. This article focuses on the current disparity between organ supply and demand, and how this has impacted the use of living donors and development of the ＂expanded donor＂ concept.

1例喉移植患者术后多学科营养支持护理

总结2023年4月29日亚洲首例喉移植患者术后多学科的营养支持护理经验。护理要点包括组建多学科营养管理团队;实施精准化的营养支持:选择恰当的方法建立鼻饲管路、精准配制营养制剂、遵循营养制剂喂养原则、预防误吸、保持鼻饲管道固定通畅、适时监测及处理营养喂养并发症;定期监测营养指标,适时调整营养补给方案,促进患者早期康复。患者术后68 d恢复良好,体质量67 kg, BMI为21.63 kg/m2,血红蛋白89 g/L,总蛋白62.9 g/L,白蛋白39.2 g/L,球蛋白20.7 g/L,身体各项指标达到出院标准,情绪稳定,生活基本自理,顺利出院。

器官捐献移植伦理审查信息系统开发的必要性与方案设计研究

目前国内医院器官捐献与移植伦理审查模式普遍存在突发性、无计划性,且时间紧、召集会议难、委员培训难、伦理审查质量及效率普遍不高等现状,无法满足临床需求和造成一些紧缺资源的浪费。昆明市第一人民医院人体器官移植技术临床应用与伦理委员会团队结合10多年审查实践经验,不断探索优化器官捐献与移植伦理审查流程与操作规程,专项申请获批,并与苏州大学、福建省医学伦理委员会共同研发构建器官捐献与移植伦理审查全流程信息软件系统管理平台,充分发挥审查信息系统具有的提升工作效率、提高审查质量、方便全流程信息管理及开展委员线上培训学习等优势功能,以期为解决人体器官捐献与移植伦理审查工作有关困难与难题做出专项实操性范本。

激励制度在公民逝世后器官捐献中的伦理分析

器官移植在重建健康、挽救生命的卓越成效表明了其重大价值所在,其中器官捐献是促进我国器官移植事业发展的重要组成部分。近年来,我国器官移植取得了重大进展,器官捐献率也逐年上升。尽管如此,我国依然面临捐献器官数量不足的严峻事实,破解这个难题需要医学科学技术和公共卫生政策进一步完善。根据国际经验,实施一定的激励制度可以有效地提高捐献率,但是激励制度本身隐藏的伦理特性似乎与器官捐献事业中的利他精神有着根本性的冲突。因此,本文从激励的性质、器官捐献与激励制度以及激励制度的伦理论证进行综述,以期为我国官捐献和移植事业的进一步发展提供参考。

全面护理流程在喉移植术后患者中的实践

目的总结3例喉移植患者术后的护理经验。方法包括定时准确用药,监测血药浓度,预防排斥反应、做好心理护理,提升患者治疗依从性、重视营养支持,组建多学科营养管理团队、预防肺部感染,积极进行肺功能、吞咽功能及嗓音训练。结果通过全面的护理流程实施,3例喉移植患者均顺利出院。结论全面护理流程实践可为喉移植患者的康复提供重要保障,为国内喉移植患者的护理提供了有益借鉴。

《人体器官捐献和移植条例》的解读和思考

2023年12月14日《人体器官捐献和移植条例》发布。从完善人体器官捐献体系,明确红十字会的职责;新增人体器官获取与分配体系,强调器官获取部门的独立性,实施器官分配优先权;加强人体器官移植管理,严格限制活体器官移植接受人范围;规范人体器官移植伦理委员会运行和加大违规行为打击力度等方面解读《人体器官捐献和移植条例》。接着思考如何落实和完善人体器官捐献的激励措施,包括落实器官捐献人及其近亲属的优先权,完善器官捐献补偿制度,建立人道救助体系;落实器官捐献组织获取和分配体系;加快器官获取组织的人员队伍等建设;加大宣传动员力度;加强人体器官移植伦理委员会建设。《人体器官捐献和移植条例》有助于更充分发挥器官移植领域的积极性和创造力,各部门应及时修订人体器官捐献与移植相关制度和管理细则,助推人体器官捐献和移植工作。

尸体肝移植受体两种伦理审查形式之伦理问题探讨

结合尸体肝移植受体会议审查和通讯审查两种审查形式的基本流程,通过对在两种审查形式实践过程中发现的案例进行陈述、分析,发现两种形式分别存在知情同意的“缺位”、公正性的“离场”两个主要伦理问题,并尝试提出可行性建议,包括知情同意相关情况需重点汇报、邀请伦理专家直接参与知情同意过程、通讯审查变快为“慢”,以期进一步推动完善尸体肝移植伦理审查相关工作,使其能够更好地实现保障受体权益的目标。

走向临床的异种器官移植

器官移植是治疗终末期器官衰竭的最佳方案,但器官短缺是全球性的问题,限制了器官移植的进一步发展。最新的研究表明,基因修饰猪可能很快成为临床器官移植供体的现实替代来源。异种移植可能是解决器官短缺问题的有效途径之一。2021年以来,全世界完成了2例活体异种器官移植、6例脑死亡异种器官移植,并启动了异种肾移植的Ⅰ期临床试验,取得了超出预期的结果。因此,本文在回顾、分析近几年活体及脑死亡受者异种移植临床试验结果的基础上,讨论与异种移植临床研究相关的科学、技术和伦理问题,希望为我国异种器官移植临床研究提供借鉴,促进临床异种移植的发展。

基于文献计量学分析我国器官捐献和移植领域的伦理研究现状和进展

目的通过文献计量学分析我国器官捐献和移植领域伦理研究的进展和现状。方法检索中国知网期刊数据库2000年1月至2023年12月的主题文献,应用CiteSpace 6.2.6从发文量、核心作者合作网络、发文机构合作网络、关键词共现、关键词突现及关键词聚类等进行分析。结果检索共获得有效文献399篇,发文量趋势中的3次高峰受到政策时事和移植技术发展影响。2000年至2014年,发文量呈上升趋势,该阶段研究关注器官捐献和移植领域的伦理学思辨;2015年至2023年发文量呈波动趋势,该阶段关注捐献和移植工作体系和医疗实践下伦理问题,公民逝世后器官捐献、伦理审查等成为研究前沿。作者共现知识图谱反映出作者以单独节点为主,缺乏作者群之间交流,发文核心作者有25位。发文机构来源多样,包括高校医学相关院系、伦理学研究机构、医院器官移植科室、医院伦理委员会、人体器官获取组织(OPO)等,发文量最多的单位是昆明市第一人民医院。共提取252个关键词,13个突现词,突现度最强的关键词为脑死亡、器官捐献、立法、伦理审查。共生成14个关键词聚类,聚类主题包括器官移植、器官捐献、公民逝世后器官捐献、伦理道德、伦理审查、医务人员。结论器官捐献和移植伦理研究领域的作者和机构合作不足,应促进多中心研究和作者间合作。建议加强基于当前工作体系和医疗实践的伦理问题挖掘和实证研究,为器官捐献和移植事业的改革与实践提供伦理基础和辩护。

异种器官移植亚临床研究专家共识(2024版)

异种器官移植亚临床研究是利用脑死亡受者进行的异种器官移植试验,是异种器官移植从基础研究和动物实验,逐步走向临床应用的重要中间环节,为异种移植的安全性和有效性提供了必要的数据支撑。为推进异种器官移植亚临床研究安全有序、科学规范地开展,根据相关法律和规范,中华医学会器官移植学分会异种移植学组从供体猪的选择、受者的选择标准、法律法规及伦理要求、试验终止时间的确定、家属知情同意制度、脑死亡判定标准等方面,制定了《异种器官移植亚临床研究专家共识(2024版)》。