Transplants Continued...

There are specific allocation guidelines that must be followed when placing organs with potential recipients. These policies have been put in place to make the system as equitable as possible. Factors such as medical urgency, time spent on the waiting list, organ size, blood type, genetic makeup and geographic closeness are considered. The organ is offered first to the candidate that is the best match.

On February 7, 2003 there were: 53,711 persons waiting for a kidney transplant; 17,077 persons waiting for a liver transplant; 1,374 persons waiting for a pancreas transplant; 3,869 persons waiting for a heart transplant; 3,821 persons waiting for a lung transplant; and 185 persons waiting for an intestine transplant. **These statistics change often and are updated on the UNOS web site at www.UNOS.org. Please refer to the web site for the most recent numbers.

An individual must be declared brain dead, or their hearts must have stopped beating, before before they can be considered an organ donor. Medical suitability is determined on a case by case basis. Once death has been declared, the the patient is screened for infectious diseases like hepatitis, HIV, etc. A detailed medical and social history questionnaire is also completed by the next of kin to ensure the donation of organs will not put the recipient at risk.

Organs can only be kept healthy for a limited time between the donation and the transplant operations. As soon as an organ is recovered from a donor, the clock starts ticking to meet the deadline to get it transplanted into another person. Tissues, like bone and skin, are freeze-dried so they can last up to five years before being transplanted. Vital Organs such as the heart and lungs last 4-6 hours. Other vital organs such as the pancreas, liver and intestine last from 12-24 hours and kidneys last 48-72 hours. Eyes last for approximately 5-7 days.