Organ transplants are medical procedures to replace an organ that has failed. The organ is taken from a donor and transplanted into the organ recipient. Organs that can be transplanted include the heart, kidney, liver, intestine, lung and pancreas.
History
Experimentation with organ transplants in animals and humans began in the 18th century. The first successful organ transplant was a kidney transplant in 1954.
Immunosuppressant
The drug cyclosporine was developed in the 1980s. It suppresses the immune system and reduces the risk of organ rejection.
UNOS
Patients in the United States who need an organ are registered with the United Network of Sharing Organs (UNOS). All patients have equal access to available organs.
Waiting Time
There is a shortage of organs available for transplants. The wait for an organ can be a few months to a few years, partially because of matching difficulties.
Matching
To decrease the risk of organ rejection, medical criteria, blood type, size of the recipient's defective organ and body weight are factors that will assist with matching a donor organ with a recipient. For the pancreas and kidney, genetic matching is also performed.
