Grafting

The process of transplanting healthy tissue from one part of the body to another (autografting), from one person to another (allografting), or from an animal to a person (xenografting). Grafting is used to repair or replace diseased, damaged, or defective tissues or organs. The most common operations of this type are skin graft, bone graft, bone marrow transplant, corneal graft, kidney transplant, heart transplant, liver transplant, heart–lung transplant, heart-valve surgery, and microsurgery on blood vessels and nerves. With autografting, the grafted tissue is usually assimilated well into the surrounding tissue at the new site. The general risks of tissue rejection following other forms of grafting are discussed in transplant surgery.