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As the disparity between organs available for transplant and the number of potential recipients in need increases, the transplant waiting list grows rapidly. Living-donor transplant provides a way for patients to overcome the limitations of the waiting list, with improved outcomes compared with deceased-donor transplants. UPMC Transplant Services has some of the largest experience in the country performing living-donor transplantation.
This segment will cover:
- What is living-donor transplantation?
- Who can be a living donor?
- What are the advantages for a transplant recipient?
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string(6089) "More than 118,000 people currently are waiting for organ transplantation, with thousands more in need of tissue and corneal transplants.
A large majority of organ donations occur via a deceased donor. However, living donation is possible with certain organs and tissues, enabling doctors to save more people in desperate need of a transplant. Traditionally, organ transplants were done using organs from deceased donors. Today, because of advances in surgical capabilities, organ donors can still be alive and give the gift of life.
Many people who know someone in need of an organ transplant often consider becoming a living donor. Other selfless individuals become a living donor solely to make a difference in the lives of others, regardless of not knowing anyone personally in need of transplant.
Click Here to Learn More about Receiving a liver transplant. Contact UPMC.
Fill out the form below or call 833-683-3555 for more information.
What Organs Can Be Donated Via Living Donation?
- Kidney — Individuals can donate one of their kidneys to a recipient to compensate for the failing kidney of the transplant recipient. This is the most common form of living donation.
- Liver — Individuals can donate a portion of their liver which is then implanted into the recipient. The liver cells regenerate after the donation until it has regrown to almost its original size in both the donor and recipient.
Advantages of Living-Donor Transplant
Every day, about 21 people in the United States die while waiting for an organ transplant. Living-donor transplant offers many advantages for people with chronic kidney and liver disease. Donors have the additional benefit of knowing that they have contributed to another person's life in a very meaningful way.
- Living-donor transplant is a life-saving procedure for people with end-stage kidney or liver disease, and it increases the number of available organs for people on the kidney and liver transplant waiting lists.
- With organs readily available for transplant, donors and recipients can schedule surgery at a time that is convenient for them.
- Flexible scheduling allows the transplant to take place sooner which can save recipients valuable time on the transplant waiting list.
- Because the donor's organs are functioning up until the time of transplant, the recipient can benefit from improved long-term outcomes and a quicker recovery.
Who Is Eligible to Donate an Organ?
Living kidney and liver donors can range from family and friends to anonymous individuals, called
altruistic donors, if they meet the requirements to donate. In some kidney transplant cases — depending on a blood type match and meeting other eligibility requirements — donors can take part in a kidney exchange or "match," where two or more pairs of related donors and recipients donate to each other.
For example, in April 2013,
eight people participated in a kidney transplant chain that took place over two days at UPMC Montefiore. In that time, UPMC surgeons performed four kidney removal surgeries, called nephrectomies, and four kidney transplant surgeries as part of the chain.
Potential living donors should be:
- Between the ages of 18 and 55
- In good general health and have no history of heart disease, liver disease – including cirrhosis and hepatitis B and C, diabetes, HIV, cancers, or other disease that could complicate surgery
What Are the Risks of Being a Living Donor?
Surgery of any kind can carry inherent risks that both the donor and recipient should consider carefully. Rarely are complications serious enough to require further corrective surgery or medical procedures. Risks may include:
- Post-surgical discomfort
- Infection
- Organ damage or other complications
If you're thinking of donating an organ, it's important to understand the risks involved. It's a big decision, but one you can make after weighing all of the options. To learn more about organ donation, including debunked myths about organ donation, visit
UPMC Transplant Services' Donate Life page.
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string(381) "Many organ donations come from a deceased donor, but you can donate certain organs and tissues while you are still alive. Because of medical advances, you can donate to a friend or loved one in need or make a selfless gift to a stranger. Read more to discover how organ donors can give the gift of life and enable doctors to save even more people who desperately need a transplant."
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Many organ donations come from a deceased donor, but you can donate certain organs and tissues while you are still alive. Because of medical advances, you can donate to a friend or loved one in need or make a selfless gift to a stranger. Read more to discover how organ donors can give the gift of life and enable doctors to save even more people who desperately need a transplant.Read More
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string(2192) "Every day, about 22 people in the United States die while waiting for an organ transplant. And, more than 118,000 people are currently waiting for organ transplantation. Thousands more are in need of tissue and corneal transplants.
Donated organs and tissue may offer the gift of sight, freedom from machines, or even life itself for people whose organs are failing because of disease or injury.
The Importance of Organ Donation
April is National Donate Life Month and the need for organ donors is greater than ever.
Did you know:
- An average of 68 organ transplants are performed every day in the United States.
- A single organ and tissue donor may save up to 8 people or enhance the lives of up to 75 people.
- Approximately 28,000 patients begin new lives each year thanks to organ transplants.
- Over 100 people are added to the nation's organ transplant waiting list each day — one every 10 minutes.
You have the power to save lives and improve the quality of life of those in need of any form of transplant.
Becoming an organ and tissue donor is one of the most generous actions you can take, and registration is easy.
How to Register as an Organ Donor
- Visit the UPMC Donate Life page to learn more about organ donor registration.
- Register with your state's organ donor registry, which can be found by visiting DonateLife.net.
- Select "yes" to organ donation when you apply for or renew your driver's license, or by visiting DMV.gov.
- Sign a donor registration card, available at any of the UPMC events throughout April.
To learn more about organ donation, including debunking myths, visit the
UPMC Donate Life website.
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More than 123,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant and thousands more are in need to tissue and corneal transplants. Donated organs and tissue may offer the gift of sight, freedom from machines, or even life itself for people whose organs are failing because of disease or injury. Read more to discover the importance of organ donation and how to register to become a donor.Read More
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string(5498) "Every day, about 22 people in the United States die while waiting for an organ transplant. For people whose organs are failing because of end-stage organ disease, donated organs and tissue may offer the gift of sight, freedom from machines, or even life itself.
The Importance of Organ Donation
April is National Donate Life Month and the need for organ donors is greater than ever. Did you know?
- 683,000 organ transplants have taken place since 1988.
- A single donor may save or enhance the lives of up to 75 people.
- Approximately 28,000 patients begin new lives each year thanks to organ transplants.
- A kidney, a portion of the liver, and bone marrow can each be transplanted from living donors.
- About three-quarters of all live donors are relatives of their recipient, most commonly a brother or sister.
- The number of living unrelated donors has nearly tripled since 1998.
- On average, 106 people are added to the nation's organ transplant waiting list each day — one every 14 minutes.
- More than 117,000 men, women, and children await lifesaving organ transplants. Even the largest football stadium in the US could not fit the number of patients on the national transplant waiting list. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania alone has more than 8,400 residents awaiting transplantation.
- You have the power to save lives and improve the quality of life of those in need of any form of transplant.
Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about organ donation.
Common Myths About Organ Donation
Myth — If I am in a car accident, and the doctors and nurses find I'm a registered organ donor, they will not try to save my life.
Fact — Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals will do everything they can to save your life.
Myth — I have a history of medical illnesses, therefore my organs cannot be donated.
Fact — Few conditions or illnesses preclude someone from being an organ donor. The Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) will determine the suitability or organs at the time of a donor's death.
Myth — Only the heart, liver, and kidneys can be donated.
Fact — Most organs can be donated, including the stomach,
intestines,
pancreas, and
lungs. You can also donate tendons, corneas, saphenous and formal veins, skin and bone, fascia, and heart valves.
Myth — I'm not the right age for organ donation.
Fact — There is no age limit for organ donation. The general age limit for tissue donation is 80 and for cornea donation 70.
Myth — Wealthy people are the only people who receive transplants.
Fact — Organs are matched first according to height, weight, and blood type, followed by medical urgency and then time accrued on the waiting list. Fame and fortune do not determine who receives a transplant. Most major insurances now cover transplants.
Myth — I Cannot Choose Which Organs I Want to Donate.
Fact — On your donor card, you can list which organs and tissues you're willing to donate.
For more information on how to become an organ donor, and for a list of UPMC Donate Life Month events,
visit the UPMC Organ Donation website.
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string(350) "Every day, about 18 people in the United States die while waiting for an organ transplant. One organ donor can save up to eight lives, but unfortunately, there are many misconceptions that may prevent people from registering as a donor. Read more to discover the importance of organ donation and to get the facts behind some of the most common myths."
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Every day, about 18 people in the United States die while waiting for an organ transplant. One organ donor can save up to eight lives, but unfortunately, there are many misconceptions that may prevent people from registering as a donor. Read more to discover the importance of organ donation and to get the facts behind some of the most common myths.Read More
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string(2958) "April is National Donate Life Month and the need for organ donors is greater than ever.
More than 118,000 people currently are waiting for an organ transplant. Thousands more are in need of tissue and corneal transplants. Organs from healthy donors can help save or dramatically improve the lives of others.
Click Here to Learn More about Receiving a liver transplant. Contact UPMC.
Fill out the form below or call 833-683-3555 for more information.
It's all the more reason to consider adding a notation to your driver's license or state-issued I.D. that you are an organ donor. Should something happen to you, you can still have the power to help others with otherwise healthy organs.
How Many Lives Can One Organ Donor Save?
A single organ donor may save up to eight people and a single tissue donor may enhance the lives of up to 50 people. You have the power to save lives and improve the quality of life of those in need of any form of transplant.
Organs that can be donated for transplant:
- Heart
- Lungs
- Liver
- Kidneys
- Pancreas
- Intestines
Tissue that can be donated for transplant:
- Corneas
- Bone/tendon
- Vein/artery
- Heart valves
- Skin
To learn more about organ donation, including
debunked myths about organ donation, or to register as an organ donor, visit
UPMC's living donor website.
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string(414) "Organs from just one healthy donor can help save or dramatically improve the lives of up to eight people. With more than 123,000 people currently are waiting for organ transplant, that’s all the more reason to consider adding a notation to your driver’s license or state-issued I.D. that you are an organ donor. Read more to discover which organs are able to be donated and to learn how to register as a donor."
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Organs from just one healthy donor can help save or dramatically improve the lives of up to eight people. With more than 123,000 people currently are waiting for organ transplant, that’s all the more reason to consider adding a notation to your driver’s license or state-issued I.D. that you are an organ donor. Read more to discover which organs are able to be donated and to learn how to register as a donor.Read More
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string(2199) "The holiday season marks a time full of selfless acts of kindness. Yet, few people have experienced the true meaning of "giving the gift of life" like living-organ donors.
Meet Annette. She underwent the ultimate act of kindness in volunteering to become a live donor for her mother, Traute, who was diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis, a type of liver disease.
With more than 15,000 Americans on the waitlist for a liver — and only about 5,000 deceased donors — living-donor liver transplant (LDLT) offers many benefits, including shorter time spent on the waitlist for the recipient, and improved long-term outcomes. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, over 61 percent of all living donors were women in 2013. Male donors comprised 39 percent of the remaining living donors who offered up organs to someone on the wait list.
In a living donor liver transplant, a portion of the liver from a healthy family member, friend, or altruistic donor is removed and transplanted in the recipient. The unique ability of the liver to regenerate allows LDLT to be a possibility for select patients.
Surgeons, hepatologists, dedicated liver transplant coordinators, psychiatrists, and other members of the UPMC team collaborate closely on each case, from pre-transplant assessments through post-discharge follow-ups, to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Most LDLT patients have a full evaluation, undergo the transplant, make a full recovery, and travel back home within one month, none of which would be possible with deceased donor transplant.
For a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about living-donor liver transplant, please visit the UPMC Liver Transplant website.
If you are interested in becoming a living donor for a loved one who is on the transplant waitlist, call our team of dedicated transplant coordinators at 1-877-640-6746.
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string(325) "With more than 15,000 Americans on the waitlist for a liver — and only about 5,000 deceased donors — living-donor liver transplant (LDLT) offers many benefits, including shorter time spent on the waitlist for the recipient, and improved long-term outcomes. Annette is just one generous donor. Read more to hear her story."
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With more than 15,000 Americans on the waitlist for a liver — and only about 5,000 deceased donors — living-donor liver transplant (LDLT) offers many benefits, including shorter time spent on the waitlist for the recipient, and improved long-term outcomes. Annette is just one generous donor. Read more to hear her story.Read More
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string(1349) "In April 2013, eight people participated in a kidney transplant chain that took place over two days at UPMC Montefiore. In that time, UPMC surgeons performed four kidney removal surgeries, called nephrectomies, and four kidney transplant surgeries as part of the chain.
“The kidney transplant chain allowed four individuals to get a transplant despite three having donors that were not matches,” explained Dr. Abhinav Humar, chief of transplant at UPMC.
Because of one person’s decision to donate a kidney to a stranger, known as an altruistic donor, three others received the kidney they were hoping for too.
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Over two days, eight people participated in a kidney transplant chain in April 2013 at UPMC Montefiore. Because one person initially decided to donate a kidney to a stranger, known as an altruistic donation, three others were able to receive kidney transplants they desperately needed. Read more to discover how the transplant chain came about.Read More
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string(833) "Eileen made a vow to always take care of her godson, Anthony. When he was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, Eileen turned her words into action by becoming Anthony's living-donor and giving him her kidney. Watch the video and hear the heroic story of how Eileen gave Anthony the greatest gift of all -- a second chance at life.
For more information on living donor kidney transplants, visit the UPMC Living-Donor Kidney Transplant website.
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After her godson Anthony was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, Eileen honored her vow to take care of him. She stepped up to become his living-donor by donating her kidney – and gave him a second chance at life. Read more to hear their full story.Watch Now
