[Transplantation and donation of tissues--six years with the new law. Experiences from the tissue bank in Lund].

Tissue transplantation is more common than organ transplantation. Legislative changes in 1996 transformed tissue banking and conditions for tissue transplantation in Sweden. After an initial decrease in donated tissue, heart valves are now available in sufficient numbers, but there is sometimes a shortage of valves the right size for pediatric cardiac surgery. Since the new transplantation legislation was implemented there has been an increase in the number of valves from neonatal donation and after sudden infant death. The number of donated corneas does not correspond to the number required for transplantation. A number of tissue coordinators have been established throughout the country and recently some new tissue banks were founded to increase the amount of tissue available for transplantation. The organization of the tissue bank in Lund is described. There is a lack of knowledge about tissue transplantation and donation among health professionals as well as the general public, and more education is warranted.