Iran pioneering in most complex transplant surgery in Asia

Pars Today - Iran's success in the most complex transplant in the world, i.e. intestine, has made the country the pioneer in Asia and, in some sub-branches related to the surgery, in the world. Not only intestinal transplant, but also the modern reconstruction and rehabilitation methods of this organ have put Iran in proper scientific conditions.

The innovative methods of Dr. Hamed Nikpoor, head of the rehabilitation department of Abu Ali Sina hospital of Shiraz and assistant professor of medical sciences university of Shiraz, and his colleagues to transplant intestine have drawn the attention of other countries and they teach even the American physicians. Here we have chosen parts of Hamed Nikpoor's interview with Hamshahri newspaper. 

According to Dr. Nikpoor, there is little time difference between Iran's successful intestinal transplant and the global one. The first successful intestinal transplant was done in 2007 in Namazi hospital of Shiraz by Dr. Nik Eqbalian. The intestinal transplant is not done just as a single organ and multi-organ method is also common. The first multi-organ transplant was done in 2010 in Iran. 

Comparison of intestinal transplant in Iran with other top countries

The head of intestine rehabilitation department of Abu Ali Sina hospital, stating that the intestinal transplant is the least successful and less frequently done surgery in terms of statistics, added, "8 to 10 intestinal transplants are done in Iran annually and 111 surgeries have been done since the beginning. This figure is 40 in a country like China, 42 in Japan and 43 in South Korea. In Turkey the figure is 10 and in the US it is less than 100. Therefore, Iran is the pioneer of intestinal transplant in Asia and the only center which has carried on this number of transplants. 

Iran's unique measures in intestine rehabilitation 

The assistant professor of Shiraz medical sciences university added, "Since the success of intestinal transplant is 50 percent, we have tried to increase intestine rehabilitation in Iran. A healthy intestine is 4.2 meters long, but through rehabilitation measures, we have a patient who lives with a 25-centimeter intestine. In Iran, intestine is reconstructed via surgical methods and its length is increased so that the patient does not need to have transplant and lives more. 

All modern intestine-related surgeries being done in Iran 

This scientist went on to say, "Iran is a member of the International Society of Intestine Transplant in terms of intestine reconstruction and transplant. Some of the intestine reconstruction surgeries are domestic innovations and Iran has made so much progress in the field that we have held teaching courses for American surgeons, too."

Iranian health ministry's service to patients needing intestinal transplant

Nikpoor stated that intestinal transplant costs $1.2 million in a country like the US and it costs nearly $5,000 in Iran which is paid by the health ministry. 

RM/MG

Key phrases: medical situation in Iran, American sanctions, treatment costs in Iran, Iran's medical successes, intestinal transplant