Solid organ transplant

Abstract For children with various forms of end-stage organ diseases, solid organ transplantation offers improved long-term survival. Transplantation of the major organs has become routine in many countries around the world, and some of the best outcomes following transplantation are being achieved in pediatric recipients. Solid organ transplantation provides a treatment option for youth with life-threatening and/or life-limiting diseases, allowing for improved physical, emotional, and social functioning. Yet, organ transplant is a treatment and not an ultimate cure. Children who receive a solid organ transplant must implement and sustain a complex medical regimen to increase the likelihood of optimal graft function and long-term survival. Nonadherence to the medical regimen after solid organ transplantation can contribute to poor clinical outcomes, including rejection, graft loss, and mortality. This chapter describes the prevalence of regimen nonadherence among pediatric solid organ transplant recipients and presents an overview of assessment and intervention strategies. Emerging areas of research, including technology-based interventions, are also discussed.