What is organ transplantation?
An organ transplant is an operation that involve moving an organ
from a donor organism to the recipient organism. You would want to do an organ transplant when you have a failing organ or an organ has stopped working and is in need of a replacement organ in order to survive.
What kind of organs are commonly transplanted?
- Kidney
- Liver
- Heart
- Pancreas
- Lung
- Intestine
How do you prepare for an organ transplant?
Before anything is done, you need to have blood and tissue tested to make sure that eveything matches with the donor. This is because of your immune system. If your immune system detects that the new organ as foreign and will reject it.
What happens after an organ transplant?
After an organ transplant, you may feel better than ever. What you are capable of doing physically and mentally depends on what kind of organ transplant you did. You do however need to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of your life to prevent the immune system from rejecting the new organ. You will also be required to do regular check ups and blood test to see if the new organ is functioning properly. Because of the anti-rejection drug, your immune system is weaken and you have to stay away from people who maybe sick.
Who can and can not be on the organ transplant list?
- You must get a referral from your physician in order to be on the transplant list.
- Many transplant center will not accept anyone who does not have insurance
- Some transplant center will not accept patients with mental retardation, HIV, history of addiction and people with criminal record
- Transplant center will reject anyone who is at the age of 75 and up
- Transplant center do accept illegal aliens but usually are only children.
How long does it usually take to get an organ if accepted into the list?
Organ | Median national
waiting time |
Hearts | 113 days |
Lungs | 141 days |
Livers | 361 days |
Kidneys | 1,219 days |
Pancreas | 260 days |
Intestine | 159 days |
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