If you had a chance to someday save another human being’s life, would you? You may have the power to do just that, simply by signing up to be an organ donor.
Organ donation is a medical process that gives individuals suffering from organ failure a second chance at life. By donating organs after death or in some cases while alive, donors play a vital role in the lifesaving promise of transplant surgery.
More than 100,000 people nationwide are currently awaiting a life-saving organ transplant, and about 10% of them live in Texas.
Transplant Surgery
Transplant surgery is the medical procedure of replacing a failing or damaged organ with a healthy one from a donor. The most commonly transplanted organs include kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and intestines. Additionally, some bodily tissue, including bones, skin and corneas may also be donated and transplanted.
Once a potential donor is identified, medical teams evaluate the organs for suitability. The transplant surgery itself involves removing the diseased organ from the recipient and replacing it with the healthy donor organ. Surgeons connect blood vessels and other necessary tissues to ensure proper function. After surgery, recipients must take medications to prevent their immune system from rejecting the new organ.
Deceased Donation
Organs and tissue may be donated by individuals who have died, due to injury or illness, and who chose in advance to donate their organs.
Because an organ must be collected and preserved almost immediately after death, organ donation almost always involves a donor who dies in a hospital setting. In many cases, organs are from a donor who has suffered brain death and, in some cases, cardiac death.
Brain death occurs when someone has suffered a severe and irreversible brain injury that results in the total loss of brain function. In this circumstance, the patient is kept on life support through a ventilator, but the patient has been declared dead – medically and legally. Once life support has been removed, the organs may be donated.
Cardiac death occurs when a patient is not brain dead but does not wish to be kept alive through artificial means and the medical staff has removed ventilator support, allowing the patient to pass away naturally. At this point, the organs may be collected.
The doctor who declares the patient has died is never part of an organ transplant team.
The hospital staff will contact an organ procurement organization, which then checks to see if the deceased patient is on the organ donation registry. If the person is not on the registry, the deceased’s family may be asked if they want to authorize organ donation.
Living Donation
In some cases, living donors can give a kidney or a portion of their liver to someone in need. We only need one kidney to survive, so a healthy person may be able to donate their other kidney. Kidney donation surgery may be done laparoscopically, providing for faster recovery time for the donor.
While we only have one liver, it has two lobes, one of which can be donated. The liver has the ability to regenerate itself to return to its original size and function within 12 weeks.
“The decision to donate a kidney or part of their liver is a tremendous sacrifice and act of generosity,” says Dr. Naseem Sunnoqrot, a nephrologist (kidney doctor) in Fort Worth. “We see this sometimes when a patient in need of a kidney or liver has a family member or friend who is a match – that means they have the same blood type and other characteristics that indicate the transplant is likely to be successful.”
Who Needs an Organ Transplant?
“By the time a patient becomes a candidate for an organ transplant, it usually means they need the new organ to save their life,” explains Dr. Fysal AlBaalbaki, a Fort Worth-based nephrologist. “Other treatment options have run their course and are no longer sufficient to resolve the underlying health issue.”
Candidacy for organ transplant is determined by medical professionals based on several factors:
- Severity of Illness: Patients with end-stage organ failure who have exhausted other treatment options may be considered.
- Overall Health: Candidates must be healthy enough to undergo surgery and manage post-operative care, including immunosuppressive therapy.
- Compatibility: Blood type, tissue type, and other biological markers must match between donor and recipient to reduce the risk of rejection.
- Commitment to Care: Recipients must demonstrate the ability to follow medical instructions and attend regular follow-up appointments.
Each organ type has specific requirements and waiting lists, and priority is often given to those with the greatest medical need and best chance of a successful outcome.
Kidney Transplants
Kidneys are the most transplanted organ, accounting for more than half of all organ transplant surgeries. About 85% of all people awaiting an organ transplant are in need of a kidney.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), a serious condition linked closely to heart disease and diabetes, develops when the kidneys can no longer filter blood efficiently. If CKD is not caught early and managed effectively by keeping blood pressure and blood sugar levels in check, kidney failure may result.
Patients suffering from kidney failure must undergo dialysis – the mechanical filtration of their blood – in order to live while they wait for a kidney transplant, if they are eligible. People wait an average of 3-5 years for a kidney transplant from a deceased donor.
How to Register to be an Organ Donor
In Texas, there are two ways you can sign up to be an organ donor. The easiest way is to visit the Donate Life Texas website and register. You can also sign up to be an organ donor when you apply for or renew your driver license with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
If you elect to register as an organ donor, it is important to inform your family and loved ones of your wishes, as they will likely be consulted by medical staff in the event of your death.
Organ Donation Saves Lives
Thanks to advances in medicine and increased awareness of organ donation, more lives are being saved and extended.
Organ transplants are only possible because there are donors willing to part with their organs when they die – and in some cases, when they are still alive. Deciding to become an organ donor is a personal decision – take some time to reflect on whether it’s something you are comfortable with. If you decide to register, your decision may well save someone’s life one day.
This article has been reviewed and approved by a panel of Privia Medical Group North Texas physicians.
This article contains information sourced from:
Health Resources & Services Administration
