How are transplanted organs allocated?
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is responsible for transplant organ distribution in the United States. UNOS oversees the allocation of many different types of transplants, including liver, kidney, pancreas, heart, lung, and cornea.
UNOS receives data from hospitals and medical centers throughout the country regarding adults and children who need organ transplants. The transplant team that currently follows you is responsible for sending the data to UNOS, and updating them as your condition changes.
Criteria have been developed to ensure that all people on the waiting list are judged fairly as to the severity of their illness and the urgency of receiving a transplant. For patients waiting for a pancreas, organs are distributed based on blood type and waiting time.
When a donor organ becomes available, a computer searches all the people on the waiting list for a pancreas and sets aside those who are not good matches for the available pancreas. A new list is made from the remaining candidates. The person at the top of the specialized list is considered for the transplant. If he/she is not a good candidate, for whatever reason, the next person is considered, and so forth. Some reasons that people lower on the list might be considered before a person at the top include the size of the donor organ and the geographic distance between the donor and the recipient.
Where do transplanted organs come from?
Most pancreas transplants that occur come from deceased organ donors. In rare cases, living donors may donate a portion of their pancreas, however this is not standard practice at most transplant centers.
Deceased organ donors are people who are brain dead and cannot survive their illness and had previously made the decision to donate their organs upon death. Parents or spouses can also agree to donate a relative's organs. Donors can come from any part of the United States.
How many people in the United States need a pancreas transplant?
Approximately 2,500 patients in the United States are waiting for a pancreas transplant (either pancreas alone of kidney-pancreas).
Visit the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Web site for statistics of patients awaiting a pancreas transplant, and the number of patients who underwent a transplant this year.
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Michele Jean Haughton, MD
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About Michele Jean Haughton, MD
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Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.
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About Charles Tyshkov, MD
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Learn more about Dr. Allyson Ocean, who works tirelessly to offer her patients the newest treatments and therapies.
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About Theresa Hetzler, M.D.
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Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.
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Come to the Myra Mahon Patient Resource Center to see the National Library of Medicine's exhibit: From DNA to Beer.
Christopher Agrusa, MD, FACS, RPVI
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About Christopher Agrusa, MD, FACS, RPVI
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Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.
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