The Tissue Transplantation
Tissue transplants are part of the standard of medical care in Germany. In the past ten years, doctors in Germany have transplanted around 60,000 corneas, hundreds of cardiovascular tissues and hundreds of thousands of bone preparations. Due to its wound healing promoting properties, the amniotic membrane can be used in many different areas of medicine: whether in ophthalmology, burn medicine, in the care of chronic wounds such as the diabetic foot, in oral and maxillofacial surgery or gynaecological surgery. The DGFG offers the following transplants to transplanting institutions throughout Germany.
Cornea
Corneal transplantation is the last remaining treatment option to save the sight of patients with a diseased or injured cornea. The success rate is very high and many patients get their vision back completely. In keratoplasty, the entire cornea is replaced by a donor cornea.
LaMEK
(Pre-Cut Grafts for DMEK)
Lamellar transplantation techniques, in particular Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), have altered corneal transplantation. Only the diseased endothelial layer of the cornea is replaced by a transplant. The patient’s eyesight recovers faster and there is no additional trauma from suturing the donor cornea.
Amniotic membrane
Transplants from the amniotic membrane (thin, inner egg membrane of the side of the maternal placenta facing the child) are mainly used to treat superficial injuries of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye. They can also be taken to treat skin burns or chronic wounds such as diabetic feet.
AmnioClip-plus
The AmnioClip-plus (AC+) is a two-piece ring system in which an amniotic membrane is clamped. It is placed in the eye similar to a contact lens. The AC+ is used in ophthalmology to treat eye surface disorders, to preserve the eye or to maintain or improve vision. It is also useful for the dry eye syndrome therapy. The suture-free application prevents additional trauma.
Heart valves & blood vessels
Cardiovascular grafts are often used to replace infected artificial prostheses. In many cases, transplantation is an emergency operation that saves lives. In addition, heart valves are often used to treat childhood heart valve defects.
Musculoskeletal tissues
Serious bone defects caused by illness or accident can only be cured in orthopaedics and trauma surgery by the precise use of bone grafts.