Trying to be an organ recipient can be difficult and
complex. The wait for an organ once you are on the waitlist can range from just
under a year, to several years depending on the organ. Once you receive an
organ, you still need to continue to monitor the health of both the organ and
the whole body.
The Waiting List
For information on steps to get on the waiting list, see
this website.
Once you are on the waiting list, you can wait for over 1,121 days to get an
organ. The following chart shows the organ and the average wait time for
receiving the transplant:
|
Organ |
Average Wait Time |
Survival Outside the Body |
|
Heart |
230 Days |
4-6 hours |
|
Lung |
1,068 Days |
4-6 hours |
|
Liver |
796 Days |
12-24 hours |
|
Kidney |
1,121 Days |
48-72 hours |
|
Pancreas |
501 Days |
12-24 hours |
Since thoracic organs (heart and lungs) can only survive 4 -
6 hours outside the body, people who live nearby are given top priority. The
transplant team then starts systematically searching zones farther away if
there is no match near the donor. Organs that can survive over 12 – 24 hours
outside the body give greater flexibility when finding a recipient. Different
tests are used to assess matches between donors and recipients.
After the Transplant
Usually after receiving a transplant, there are many
medications that need to be taken. Some are new medications, while others may
be continued medications. Depending on the medication, you may have to take it
several times a day or only on certain days. Your doctor may have to change
medications or adjust dosages as needed to find the best combination for
minimum side effects with the maximum benefit.
Laboratory tests become a regular activity for a transplant
recipient. Doctors need to monitor the transplanted organ and the whole body
for years after the surgery. Recipients are more vulnerable to infections from
taking immunosuppressants, which prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted
organ.
While confidentiality of donors and recipients is required
by law, it is possible for contact to be arranged if both sides agree. Different
transplant centers have different procedures, so if you want to contact either
the donor or the recipient, be sure to contact the transplant center you
visited to understand the procedures.
Resources:
http://organdonor.gov/transplantation/matching_process.htm
http://organdonor.gov/transplantation/transplantation_life.htm
| 
Re: The Waiting List & Life After the Transplant (Part 4)
