Question 1

Can I become an organ transplant donor?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can become an organ transplant donor by signing up for a donation. If you are below 18 years of age, you will require parental consent to pledge your organs. Signing up to be a donor for an organ transplant does not hamper your current life in any way. In fact, you get to save many lives once deceased!

If you are legally an adult, you can directly register as an organ transplant donor to consent to the use of your organs for the organ transplant process after your death.

Question 2

What are the chances of recovery after an organ transplant surgery?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the type of organ transplantation, overall health and the body's immune system response, the chances of successful organ transplant surgery and subsequent recovery range from the single digits to over 73% for five years. It is advisable to follow all instructions of the doctor in charge of the organ transplant surgery if deemed suitable to become an organ recipient to aid chances of recovery.

Question 3

What organs and tissues can be transplanted?

Accepted Answer

Organs and tissues that can be transplanted include:

Heart
Heart valves
Lung
Liver
Kidney
Pancreas
Intestine
Cornea
Skin
Bone and bone marrow
Middle ear
Connective tissue
Vascularized composite allografts

Question 4

Does becoming an organ donor mean that I won’t be eligible to receive the best medical care possible?

Accepted Answer

Your decision to donate an organ does not affect the quality of medical care you receive.

Question 5

What are the benefits of organ transplantation?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the organ a person receives, the benefits of transplantation can vary. Some of them may include:

Living a healthier and longer life
No more pain due to a failed or dysfunctional organ
Avoiding medical procedures such as dialysis
Improved quality of life.
Treating congenital disabilities that endanger life
Needing fewer surgeries or taking fewer medications.

Question 6

What are the signs of organ rejection?

Accepted Answer

Some of the general signs of organ rejection include:

Pain at the transplant site
Flu-like symptoms
Children may feel cranky
Feeling unwell
Fever
Swelling
Changes in weight
Urinating less often
Changes in heart rate

Question 7

What can you expect from organ transplantation?

Accepted Answer

Organ transplant is performed in people who have a serious illness and will die without a new organ. There are other cases as well, where the transplant is done to improve a person’s quality of life, such as restoring sight with a cornea transplant.

The first step of the transplantation process is to get one’s name on the organ transplant list. To do this, the doctor must examine the patient and diagnose a serious medical condition. They must conclude that the patient matches all the criteria to receive an organ transplant.

The process of organ transplantation is a complicated one. The donor must be a close match to and have compatible blood types for the transplantation to work. There are other relevant factors as well depending on the organ involved. For instance, in kidney transplantation, it is necessary for the donors and their recipients to have compatible antibodies and similar body sizes.

Once a person reaches the top of the waiting list, they can receive an organ transplant depending on the availability of the next matched donor. When an organ is available, immediate surgery is arranged and the recipient gets the transplant. After the transplant, the recipient must stay in the hospital for a few days so that their condition can be monitored. The length of the stay will depend on their overall health and how well the surgery went.

Question 8

What are the types of living-organ donation?

Accepted Answer

The living-organ donation can be of two types – directed and nondirected donation.

Directed donation: Directed donation is a common type of organ donation, where you can direct the organ to a specific recipient for transplant. This is possible when you belong to one of the following categories–

A first-degree relative, such as a parent, brother, sister, or adult child of the patient
Biologically related relatives, such as uncles, aunts, or cousins
You can also be a biologically unrelated person who has a connection with the transplant candidate, such as a spouse, friend, or coworker
You can also offer help to patients in need on being informed of an organ requirement.

Nondirected donation: Here, you do not name the recipient. The nondirected donation is also called a good Samaritan or altruistic donation. The organ will be donated to a recipient based on the medical requirement and blood type compatibility. In some cases, you may even choose not to know the organ recipient, but in other cases, the donor and the recipient can meet if both agree, and the transplant centre allows it.

Guide to Organ Transplants: