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May 4, 2023 · It can be even harder to think about donating organs and tissue. But organ donors save lives. Here are answers to some common organ donation myths and concerns. Myth: If I agree to donate my organs, the hospital staff won't work as hard to save my life.
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- Risks / Benefits
- Recovery and Outlook
Organ donation and transplantation allows a deceased or living donor to give life to another. Surgeons remove a healthy organ from a donor who doesn’t need it and transfer it to someone else who does. Organs that they can transplant include the liver, kidney, heart, lungs and more.
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OverviewProcedure DetailsRisks / BenefitsRecovery and Outlook
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How does the organ donation process work?
The process for deceased organ donation begins with consent and ends with a surgical organ transplant. Here are the steps: 1. Identifying an eligible donor Eligible organ donors have been declared deceased by a cause that didn’t damage their organs. Usually, they’ve had a catastrophic brain injury that caused brainstem death, or they died by sudden cardiac arrest. In these cases, the hospital can preserve their organs after their death through mechanical ventilation. Medical specialists from the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) evaluate the person’s medical status and history to determine whether they can be a donor. 2. Obtaining consent Many organ donors decide before their death to donate organs after their death. The OPTN maintains a national database of registered organ donors. After confirming an eligible donor, they’ll check their database to see if they’re registered. If they are, they’ll inform their family of their consent to donate. If they’re not, they’ll consult with their family about the opportunity for donation, taking time to answer all their questions. Their family may choose at this time to donate their organs on their behalf. 3. Matching donors to recipients The next step is to match donor organs and tissues with the people who need them. This is mostly a computerized process. The OPTN enters information on the donor’s blood type, body size and available organs and tissues into their computer system. The system will find the closest match possible from its database of hopeful recipients. First, it matches organs to potential recipients based on physical factors. Next, it ranks the priority of the potential recipients based on their need, and lastly, their location. 4. Coordinating the transplant Once a recipient has been identified, their transplant center will receive an electronic notification offering the donor organ. The transplant team will make the final decision on whether to accept the organ for their patient. If they accept, they’ll coordinate the logistics with the host Organ Procurement Organization (OPO). They’ll arrange for operating rooms to be available for both donor and recipient as soon as possible. Then they’ll coordinate the arrival and departure of the transplant surgery teams. 5. Recovering the organs A specialized surgical team recovers organs and tissues from the donor in a respectful, formal procedure. By federal law, it’s a different medical team from the one that cared for the donor at the end of their life. They’ll leave the donor’s body in fit condition for the funeral procedure of their or their family’s choice. It’s possible to have an open casket funeral after organ donation. The team will preserve the organs in special containers and deliver them to the recipient’s transplant hospital. 6. Organ transplantation The organ recipient should be waiting at their transplant hospital when the donor organ arrives. They’ll have surgery as soon as possible, while the organ is still viable. Organ transplant surgery is complex and can take several hours. Some organs are only viable for six hours after being removed. When the transplant is complete, the OPO follows up with the family and healthcare team of the donor to let them know. The donor’s and recipient’s identities remain anonymous unless they choose to share them. Advertisement
How do I register to become an organ donor?
To become an organ donor after your death, you can register with: The National Donate Life Registry at registerme.org. Your state registry site. Find your state on the federal site at organdonor.gov/sign-up. Your local DMV or BMV. They can register your choice on your state driver’s license or ID. The Health app on your iPhone, which can send your information to the national registry. Joining a registry gives your legal consent to donate your organs after your death. It’s also a good idea to talk to your family about your wish to become an organ donor. If you’ve already registered, this helps to prevent unnecessary surprises. If you haven’t yet, it can help your family advocate for your wishes.
How do I get on the waiting list to receive an organ transplant?
If your healthcare provider recommends an organ transplant for you, they’ll refer you to a transplant hospital. The transplant center’s multidisciplinary team will evaluate you to decide if you’re a suitable candidate. Each transplant hospital has its own criteria for accepting candidates for organ transplantation. If they accept you as a candidate, they’ll put you on the national waiting list maintained by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). They’ll let you know the date that you were added.
What are the benefits of organ donation and transplantation?
Organ donation and transplantation saves thousands of lives each year. One of these people could be someone you care about. Tissue donations can help heal and restore quality of life to many more. If you become a donor after your death, your organs and tissues could: Save up to eight lives. Restore sight to two people. Heal up to 75 burn and wound victims. Help someone restore their hand or face. If you become a living donor, you could: Save the life of someone you know. Save them from waiting indefinitely while getting sicker. Give them a healthier organ than they might get otherwise. Let someone else on the waiting list get the next organ, thus saving two lives.
What are the risks of organ donation and transplant surgery?
General risks for the transplant recipient include: Surgical risks, such as blood loss and other complications. Organ rejection or failure. Most people will have some brief episodes of organ rejection in their first year after surgery. Healthcare providers treat these episodes with medications. But in a few people, rejection episodes continue despite treatment. This can cause the new organ to fail. Infection. Healthcare providers prescribe immunosuppressant medications to help prevent organ rejection in transplant recipients. These medications suppress your immune system. The side effect of taking them is that you’ll be more vulnerable to common infections from now on. General risks for living donors include: General risks of surgery, including pain, blood loss and infection. Damage to your organ during the procedure, causing long-term complications. Reduced kidney function after donating one kidney. Loss of work, or of paid time off from work. Difficulties with health or life insurance coverage. Negative feelings about your choice if things don’t work out as planned.
How long does it take to recover from organ transplant surgery?
Whether you’re a living donor or an organ recipient, it can take two to six months to fully recover from organ transplant surgery. You may need to stay in the hospital for a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the type of transplant you had. You may need to take one to two months off from work, and you may need extra help at home. Despite expert care, you can expect some degree of discomfort and physical limitation while you recover. If possible, try to arrange for someone to support you during this time. A note from Cleveland Clinic If you need an organ transplant, the wait can be tense. For many, it’s a race against time whether they’ll get one before they’re too sick to have surgery. When they get the call that a donor organ has become available, they head to the hospital for surgery without hesitation. If you know someone who’s waiting for a liver or a kidney, you may share their sense of urgency. And you may be able to help. But you may also have hesitations. Specialized healthcare providers will help you make an informed decision. Medically Reviewed Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/11/2023. Learn more about our editorial process.
Sign Up To Be An Organ Donor. You can provide lifesaving organs to as many as eight people. Every registration counts. Sign up through your state, using the drop-down or map.
By registering your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor in the National Donate Life Registry, you are helping to save lives and give hope to the more than 100,000 people in the United States currently waiting for lifesaving organ transplants.
How Donation Works. Learn what and when you can donate, how organ donors match to organ recipients, and how the transplant process works. Find your local Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) Learn about grants and assistance for living organ donation.
Living organ donors are usually between the ages of 18 and 60 year old. However, acceptable ages may vary by transplant center and the health of the donor candidate. The prospective donor must have several points of compatibility including a compatible blood type, tissue type, and other markers.
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Organ Donation Saves Lives. Find Out More & Chat With a Representative Today. The UPMC Liver Transplant Program Is One of the Oldest & Largest In the United States
GTS Is Committed To Everyone Who Needs An Organ, Gets One! Reach Out For More Information. Global Transplants Solitions' Products Meet All The Quality Standards Set by US FDA.
Enhancing lives through discovery, diagnosis, and treatment. Learn more about Versiti. Find a blood center or community drive near you and save three lives with your donation.
