Issues In Organ Donation

The Data As of 10/6/09 there are 104,043 people on the US waiting list From January to July of ,677 transplants were performed From January to July 2009 there were 8,542 donors Each day, 78 Americans receive a life-saving organ transplant More than 100 people die every week while on the national transplant list waiting for an organ

What Can Be Transplanted OrgansHeartKidneysPancreasLungsLiverIntestines TissuesCorneaSkin Heart valves Bone Blood vessels Connective tissue Other Bone marrow Stem Cells Cord Blood

How Does a Patient Get on the Waiting List Obtain a referral from a physician Contact a transplant hospital (there are about 200 in the United States) Schedule and appointment at a transplant hospital for an evaluation. The evaluation team at the transplant hospital makes the recommendation.

The Waiting List The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintains a centralized computer network, Unet.sm The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintains a centralized computer network, UNet sm, that links all organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and transplant centers. The national waiting list is maintained on UNet sm. This list is open only to transplant professionals who are members of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. It cannot be accessed by the public. Patients are not notified by UNOS when they are added to the waiting list. The transplant team that did the evaluation contacts the patient in writing within 10 days and notifies the patient of the date and time their name was added to the list. The patient then directs questions about their status on the waiting list to the transplant center ’ s transplant team.

Who Gets the Organ Specific factors are considered based upon the organ needed. The organ is matched with a person on the waiting list with compatible body size, weight and blood type. Other factors such as how sick a patient is, how long the patient has been waiting and where they live in relation to the donor are taken into account. Since a heart and/or lung can only last outside the body for 4 to 6 hrs, patients in close proximity to the donor have first priority. A liver and pancreas can remain healthy for 12 to 24 hrs and a kidney for 48 to 72 hrs. Candidates from farther distances can be considered more for these organs.

How Long Is The Wait Average time on the list for a: heart is 230 days lung is 1,068 days liver is 796 days kidney is 1,121 days pancreas is 501 days

Financial Considerations The cost of transplantation can range from $200,000 to $800,000. In addition anti-rejection meds cost $12,000 to $15,000 the first year after surgery and $10,000 to $12,000 each year thereafter.