Organ Transplantation

About

Organ transplantation is a medical procedure that involves replacing a failing organ with a healthy one from a donor. This process can significantly extend lives and improve the quality of life for individuals with chronic illnesses or organ failure. It involves a complex series of steps, including identifying eligible donors, obtaining consent, matching donors with recipients, and performing the transplant surgery. Donors can be deceased or living, with living donors typically donating organs like kidneys or liver lobes. The transplant process is overseen by organizations like the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), which manages the national waiting list and matches donors with recipients based on factors like blood type and medical urgency. The surgery is intricate and requires precise compatibility between the donor and recipient to prevent rejection. Despite risks such as infection and organ failure, the benefits of transplantation often outweigh these risks, offering recipients a chance at a longer, healthier life.