When are Organ Transplants Necessary?
Organ transplants are performed to replace diseased organs with healthy ones. In the case of liver transplants, transplantation of a whole liver is not always required. Sometimes a section of liver is all that’s needed. Because of this, family members who are genetically compatible can donate part of their livers (living donor transplantation or live donor transplantation). Otherwise, the majority of livers come from unrelated deceased organ donors.
According to The United Network for Organ Sharing, in 2004, 6,168 liver transplants (of which 580 were pediatric liver transplants) and 152 intestinal transplants (of which 92 were pediatric intestine transplants) and 46 multi-organ liver-intestine transplants (of which 44 were pediatric) were performed in the United States. The waiting list is long, however. As of August 19, 2005, 17,901 people (including 835 children) were waiting for a liver transplant and 188 (including 142 children) were waiting for an intestine transplant.
Liver Transplantation
Intestine Transplantation
