Aims and objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics of rejection after upper abdominal cluster transplantation.
Background: Abdominal organ cluster transplantation is used to treat multiple abdominal organ diseases. Delay in monitoring and treatment can lead to graft failure.
Design: A descriptive study.
Methods: Data collected from eight patients who underwent abdominal organ cluster transplantation from May 2004-March 2009 in our hospital were retrospectively assessed. The clinical manifestations of graft rejection and variations in characteristics associated with graft function were analysed.
Results: In all eight cases, graft function recovered successfully without rejection during the perioperative period. In one case, liver graft rejection occurred 1·5 months postoperatively, but dose adjustment of the anti-rejection drugs provided symptom relief.
Conclusions: Rejection can be prevented and cured successfully through monitoring and early detection of rejection characteristics by the nursing staff.
Relevance to clinical practice: With the increase of awareness and knowledge on the clinical observation and nursing care, the rate of transplantation rejection decreased among abdominal cluster transplant patients.
© 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.