In the year 2016, organ transplant cases done in the United States reached its highest. According to collected data from United Network for Organ Sharing, these statistics have proven consistent for 4 years straight already.
Steady Increase In Organ Transplant Statistics
Preliminary statistics in 2016 confirmed that the U.S. had 33,606 organ transplants from the 8.5 percent increase in 2015 and 19.8 percent in 2012. This rise in data is mostly due to the increased number of deceased donors.
82 percent (or 27, 628) of the total transplants performed are cases involving deceased donors providing, most of the time, multiple organs. 18 percent (or 5,978) were organ transplants from living donors.
Dr. David Klassen explains that, over time, disqualifications have been minimized for deceased donors. Dr. Klassen is the chief medical officer of the organ sharing network. The network serves under federal contract. It unifies medical professionals, donor families, and transplant recipients.
Donors For Organ Transplants
There is not fixed criteria for donations. There are also no strict guidelines being enforced in procuring and donating, according to Klassen. Donation and transplant professionals make use of their best judgments in evaluating each organ donation. They assess whether the donated organ will be safe for the transplant recipient- for instance, whether an elderly deceased would be a safe donor.
The national concern of opioid epidemic is another source of donor organs.
"The number of donors who died of overdoses increased over the past year," confirmed Klassen. In some parts of the country, about 25% of the population of donors have died in overdoses, added Klassen. High incidences of drug overdoses have resulted in increased number of organ donors. Unideal it may seem, however it increases the potential of increasing organs available for donation.
"The transplant community is pretty energized in terms of trying to make use of all donors of potential," Klassen said.New England Organ Bank, for instance, is energized by this trend- working with over 150 hospitals.
"In many ways, our results in 2016 mirrored those nationally," according to Alexandra Glazier. "We achieved a 19% increase in organ donation." Glazier confirmed this was achieved by "participating in national efforts through organizations like Donate Life America" while leading initiatives in finding donors. Glazier is the organ bank's president and CEO.
"In New England, we work closely with the motor vehicle departments in all six states to make it fast and easy for individuals getting or renewing licenses to register as organ and tissue donors," Glazier said. "Another part of our effort is to provide information and support to families of unregistered individuals who have died to offer them the option to make the donation decision," she added.
Organ Transplant Now A Trend?
Kidneys are most commonly demanded and transplanted organ every year. This trends us partly because dialysis can prolong people's lives waiting for the organ. A total of 19,057 kidneys has been transplanted in 2016. In the same year, there have been 3,191 heart transplants, 7,841 liver transplants, and 2,327 lung transplants.
Currently, in the United States, there are 19,053 people who are anticipating for a life-saving organ.
