Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2020 Mar;59(1):135-140.
doi: 10.20471/acc.2020.59.01.16.

THE BEGINNINGS OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION IN SOUTH-EAST EUROPE

Davor Primc  1 , Sanjin Rački  1 , Miha Arnol  1 , Marin Marinović  1 , Ana Fućak-Primc  1 , Amir Muzur  1 , Simon Hawlina  1 , Dean Markić  1
Affiliations
Review

THE BEGINNINGS OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION IN SOUTH-EAST EUROPE

Davor Primc et al. Acta Clin Croat. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Organ transplantation is one of the most important medical achievements of the 20th century. Kidney transplantation is the most efficient method of renal replacement therapy. The first successful kidney transplantation in human was performed in 1954 in Boston, USA. In former Yugoslavia, the first kidney transplantation was performed on April 16, 1970 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and second one on January 30, 1971 in Rijeka, Croatia. In both cases, the mother donated kidney to the son. In the article, we describe the prerequisite conditions for this operation, the characteristics of first patients, and the impact of transplantation program on the development of the hospitals and medical schools.

Keywords: Kidney failure, chronic; Kidney transplantation – history; Organ transplantation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
First hemodialysis in Slovenia (1959) with Prof. Rakovec next to the dialysis machine.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Prof. Slavko Rakovec in his younger days.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Prof. Ludvik Ravnik.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The first hemodialysis unit at Dr. Zdravko Kučić Hospital in Rijeka (Sušak) in the 1960s.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Prof. Vinko Frančišković, head of the Rijeka (Sušak) Surgical Department.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
A detail from the operation theater during the first kidney transplantation in Croatia: Prof. Frančišković first on the left.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
The first patient with transplanted kidney in Rijeka visits another patient in the Hemodialysis Unit. This patient used to encourage other patients to follow his example.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Multidisciplinary team that performed the first kidney transplantation in Croatia; sitting (from left to right): Dr. Petar Orlić (Department of Surgery), Dr. Ksenija Vujaklija-Stipanović (Department of Transfusiology), Prof. Šime Vlahović (Physiology, Rijeka School of Medicine), Prof. Vinko Frančišković (Surgery), Dr. Tomislav Tićac (Surgery), Dr. Jerko Zec (Surgery, Hemodialysis Unit); standing (from left to right): Dr. Giampaolo Velčić (Surgery), Dr. Miomir Zelić (Surgery), Dr. Damir Dimec (Surgery), Dr. Nikola Gržalja (Department of Microbiology, Rijeka School of Medicine), Dr. Daniel Rukavina (Physiology, Rijeka School of Medicine), Dr. Ante Šepić (Surgery), Dr. Alenka Suzanić (Anesthesiology), Dr. Vjerislav Peterković (Surgery), Dr. Duje Vukas (Surgery), Dr. Branimir Budisavljević (Surgery), Dr. Andrej Gudović (Surgery).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Druml W, Druml C. Emerich Ullmann (1861-1937): not only a pioneer of kidney transplantation. J Nephrol. 2004;17:461–6. - PubMed
    1. Markić D, Valenčić M, Maričić A, Španjol J, Rački S, Fučkar Ž. Kidney transplantation – successful story started 110 years ago. Acta Med Croatica. 2012;66 Suppl 2:59–63. - PubMed
    1. Ullmann E. Experimentelle Nierentransplantation. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1902;15:281–2. [in German] - PubMed
    1. Shaw R, Stubenbord WT. Alexis Carrel, M.D. Contribution to kidney transplantation and preservation. N Y State J Med. 1980;80(9):1438–42. - PubMed
    1. Sade RM. Transplantation at 100 years: Alexis Carrel, pioneer surgeon. Ann Thorac Surg. 2005;80:2415–8. 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2005.08.074 - DOI - PubMed