Wojciech Rowiński (1935–2014) – a pioneer of Polish transplantology and a mentor

Abstract

IntroductionThe present state of Polish transplantology and nephrology was created to a great extent by prof. Wojciech Rowiński due to his excellent organizational, clinical, and didactic skills. His major field of interest was the pathophysiology of the ischemic damage in donor organs; especially kidneys. Together with his colleagues, he was responsible for the implementation of hypothermic pulsatile perfusion in order to preserve a cadaveric kidney until it could be used in clinical practice. The procedure has been in use since 1995 and has been an extremely important achievement in the reduction of the incidence of posttransplant acute tubular necrosis.AimThe purpose of our work is to introduce the reader to the person of Wojciech Rowiński.Material and methodsThe work is based on the available literature. The search process resulted in the detection of relevant articles using valid keywords on electronic databases, including Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Subsequently, 11 were identified as eligible for our review.Results and discussionIn 2008, due to Rowiński's initiative, the Parliament of the Republic of Poland accepted a resolution regarding the approval of transplantation as a method of treatment.ConclusionsRowiński's pioneering efforts and innovative techniques in transplantology had a profound impact on the field, leading to improved organ preservation, reduced complications, and enhanced ethical considerations.