How to find the best transplant surgeon?
Experienced transplant doctors have achieved excellent results in liver, kidney, etc. Before answering how to find the best transplant doctor near me, several questions should be considered.
What helps to select the right transplantologist?
As a first step, many patients choose a country. But which doctor to rely on? In this regard, the necessary questions can be sorted as follows:
<dl>Reputation & research activity. It is formed from participation in scientific life. That is an encouraging sign if a doctor has published scientific papers and regularly participates in specialized seminars and conferences.
Certification. Find out about the international certificates and licenses owned by the transplant doctor and the membership in global communities of transplant surgeons such as ESOT, ISHLT, and ASTS.
Transplant doctor qualification. Transplant doctors should know how to assess the condition of the patient's body, how to choose the most appropriate treatment method, and conduct postoperative treatment and follow-up. They work with various organs, such as kidneys, liver, pancreas, and lungs. So they should be highly qualified, not only in the field of surgery but also in narrow fields like urology, thoracic surgery, and pediatrics.
Experience. The transplant surgeon you have chosen must have many years of experience in organ transplant you need. He should be prepared for any unforeseen situations during the operation. He should know all possible risks and be able to make quick decisions in emergencies.
The number of successful transplants. You can ask your doctor about the number of surgeries he has performed. Low rates of mortality and rejection of transplanted organs indicate reliable clinical protocols.
Access to new techniques. Minimally invasive, laparoscopic, and seamless procedures are available to patients of the best transplant doctors. It means shorter recovery time, lower risk, and better outcomes for organ recipients and donors.
Access to the organ bank. Best transplant doctors in Germany, Turkey, and the US, are connected with cryobanks in which donor organs are stored in specific environments at low temperatures. For example, cryobanks in Switzerland successfully keep organs such as kidneys, bone marrow, germ and stem cells, skin, and eye cornea. It allows male and female transplant doctors to help patients with a shorter waiting time.
A part of a multidisciplinary approach. Transplantation is a complex procedure that requires a well-coordinated team and close contact of the transplant surgeon with immunologists, hematologists, cardiologists, and nephrologists. You can also get help from other doctors. For example, an endocrinologist may help manage the high blood sugar levels associated with steroids.
Patient reviews. Feedback is an excellent way to judge a doctor's competence. On AiroMedical, you can get acquainted with the ratings of the best specialists to facilitate the decision-making process.
Postoperative care. Transplantation is not the final treatment stage. The patient is shown long-term (and sometimes lifelong) drug therapy so the new organ functions normally. Transplant doctors closely monitor the well-being of patients, choose the best medications and give detailed recommendations on postoperative adaptation and recovery.</dl>
Extra factors to consider
<dl>Location. Some transplants, such as lung or heart, are a race against time. Therefore, it is necessary to be near the transplant center. The faster the surgery is carried out, the better the organ will be "launched" into the recipient's bloodstream, and the operation will have a good outcome.
Adept in evidence-based medicine. It is an essential tool for a transplant doctor to determine the effectiveness of available transplant methods based on scientific research data. It helps make informed decisions, quantify the risks of procedures and treatments, and predict results based on previous clinical studies.
Availability of clinical trials. Patients of the best transplant surgeons can participate in research on improving temporary artificial organs, growing organs from patient tissues, various types of postoperative care, and experiments on transplanting animal organs to humans.</dl>
Today, organ transplants are available in most countries. But each has characteristics that must be considered when contacting a transplant surgeon for help. Compliance with all the subtleties of legislation is of great importance. AiroMedical is always ready to help you understand transplants' legal and medical aspects and find the top-rated transplant doctor for your case.