(NAPSA)—Organ transplants have been savinglives for many years. You may even know someone who has received a kidney or a heart transplant, and whata differencethatgift of life has made. Anothertypeoftransplant has been changinglives in incredible new ways— the transplantation of handsandfaces. More than 100 people worldwide have received these types of transplants: a veteran wholost his limbs in war, a woman whose face was devastated in an attack, a child wholost his handsto severeinfection. All have hadtheirlives transformed. ‘These procedures are called “Vascularized Composite Allograft” organ transplants, or VCA transplants. They are composed ofmultiple types oftissue. With a hand transplant, for example, bones, blood vessels, nerves and skin mustall be attachedto the remaining arm. So many tissues, however, make VCA transplants extremely complex. ‘Thesurgery requires the involvementof dozens of surgeons and other medical professionals and can take 16 hours or more. Recovery is also demanding for patients; rehabilitation can bea full-time job for oneto two years. Yet, the results are life changing. VCAtransplants can restore abilities andindependence in waysthatartificial limbs and reconstructive surgery cannot. Just consider the difference a working hand with moving fingers anda senseof touch could make.It can meantheability to take care ofoneself, work, drive and play. Face transplants enablerecipientsto rejoin society, often endingisolation and depression. VCA and traditional organ transplants are the same in some With a new typeoftransplant, people can now receive a restored face or handsthat work. respects. Criteria for matching donors and recipients include the need for compatible blood and tissue types. However, VCA requires matching for additional features such as skin tone, body size and hair color. Gender may also be takeninto consideration. A commonlyasked question about face transplants is whetherthe recipient will look like the donor. The answeris yes and no.Yes, skin characteristics such as moles,freckles andscars will transfer to the recipient. However, because the recipient’s underlying bone structure is apt to be different from the donor's, resemblance willlikely be minimal. Like with kidneys,livers and other organs,thereis a national waiting list for VCAtransplants that matches donors with potential recipients. However, enrolling as an organ donorona state or nationalregistry does not mean you're authorizing VCA donation. Yourfamily would make the decision about VCA donationafter your death. You can learn more at www. organdonor.gov, a website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.
