Articles tagged with Organ Donation
A European review of child organ donations highlights legal, ethical and cultural barriers across countries. The shortage of deceased donors from children is exacerbated by incompatible organ size and low donation rates.
A new study suggests that requiring a second brain death exam may be unnecessary and can lead to prolonged family suffering while waiting for the exam. The study found that no one declared brain dead in the first exam was found to have restored brain stem function in the second exam.
A new study from Purdue University found that in-person discussions about organ donation increased registration rates by 13.6%, while a low-intensity approach led to only a 3% increase.
The new pilot program aims to recover organs from deceased individuals who die of cardiac arrest outside of hospitals, honoring their wishes and saving lives. The program has the potential to transform organ donation in the US, making it possible for more people to become donors regardless of where they die.
A new tool helps neurologists identify comatose patients who are potential organ donors by analyzing four key factors: corneal reflex, cough reflex, motor response, and oxygenation index. This prediction can be made before a patient is taken off breathing support, benefiting both organ donation rates and medical resource allocation.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute found that pre-transplant smoking increases the risk of non-fatal cardiac events, while homeless donors are associated with higher complications and poor outcomes. Donor demographics also play a role in transplant survival rates, with males receiving opposite-gender hearts having worse outcomes.
A new survey by Donate Life America shows an increase in willingness to donate organs, but the US is still not keeping pace with the demand for transplants. The survey highlights pervasive myths about organ donation and encourages Americans to register as donors.
A new study by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that the number of living donor organs available for transplant has declined over the past five years, while the number of deceased donors decreased in 2008. This decline has resulted in a widening gap between the number of organs available and the number of patients awaiting a donor organ.
A new law in Israel prioritizes organ donation for those who have signed donor cards, with increased priority given to first-degree relatives and live donors. The policy aims to increase organ availability despite a low consent rate for donation.
A UK hospital has seen a significant increase in tissue donations, including corneas, after combining its bereavement and donation services. The service, which provides round-the-clock support to staff, has helped identify more potential donors and referred them to the regional transplant donor coordinators.
A study found that children's hospitals have varying policies on organ donation after cardiac death (DCD), with differences in declaring death criteria and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment locations. The researchers analyzed 73 approved policies from 105 responding hospitals, revealing notable variation among institutions.
A study found that TV networks spend little time discussing organ donation needs and registration processes, resulting in inadequate coverage of the topic. The researchers analyzed over 1,500 stories and found that only 94% of positive health outcomes for living donors were mentioned.
UT Southwestern University Hospital has received awards for its successful efforts to increase organ donation rates, surpassing the 75 percent goal among eligible donors. The hospital achieved this feat through a combination of effective strategies and strong transplant team leadership.
A presumed consent system for organ donation could tackle the UK's growing waiting list by encouraging people to talk about their wishes. This approach aims to increase the supply of organs available for transplant, reducing demand on the black market.
The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine expert discusses organ donation after cardiac death, a controversial topic that raises ethical considerations. The
Family members who declined organ donation often feel guilty due to conflicting views on the 'gift of life' vs. preserving their deceased relative's body. Despite many holding pro-donation views, they still choose not to donate out of concerns and mixed feelings about the process.
A content analysis of newspaper stories on organ and tissue donation found 57% positive and 14% negative articles. The most frequently referenced topics were kidneys, post-transplantation health, and the critical shortage of organs.
The Lancet Editorial emphasizes the need for dramatically increasing legal organ donations to meet demand, as punitive measures only drive organ trafficking further underground. The Iranian model of paying and caring for donors is considered the gold standard, but its commercialization raises moral concerns.
Adult heart transplant recipients who received HCV-positive donor hearts had higher mortality rates and lower survival rates at 1, 5, and 10 years. The study suggests that transplanting hearts from donors with hepatitis C should be avoided if possible.
A study by the University of Alberta and other institutions found that living kidney donors incur various costs, including travel and accommodation expenses, lost income, and physical limitations after surgery. These costs can range from $837 to $28,900 per donor and may lead to financial burdens and disincentives for potential donors.
Recently reported cases of rodent virus transmission through organ donation highlight the need for a tracking system. Physicians should be vigilant in identifying clusters of symptoms following transplantation, as early detection can prevent further transmissions.
A study by Thomas H. Feeley found that 80% of college students want to learn more about organ donation, and 57 have signed up. However, only 11% of the total student population has done so. The researchers suggest tailoring information campaigns to address different segments of the student population.
A recent study published at the Central Surgical Association meeting found that success rates for kidney transplants are comparable regardless of donor and recipient age. The research suggests that using newer methods to match kidneys with recipients can increase organ availability for older patients.
Researchers found that routine screening of blood samples to detect viral RNA in organ and tissue donors could reduce disease transmission among transplant recipients. The study suggests that nucleic acid testing (NAT) may be used to improve viral safety of grafts.
Organ donations from living donors are less common in Canada due to cultural variations. Non-Western cultures perceive death as a more integrated state than Western societies do, making organ donation challenging for some individuals. Healthcare professionals must be aware of these differences and provide respectful care.
A new study published in Critical Care found that 70% of transplant doctors would consider accepting organs from poisoned patients. This increase in organ donation could save lives and address the global shortage of healthy organs available for transplant operations.
A study found that African-American women were the least likely to donate blood, with only 41% reporting willingness, while African-American men were the least likely to become organ donors upon death. Religious beliefs played a significant role in organ donation disparities among African-American and white groups.
A new study from Case Western Reserve University finds that prior knowledge of the donation process, how a family is asked, and demographics play important roles in the decision to donate. Families with prior discussion about their relatives' wishes were more likely to donate.
Researchers at UCLA Medical Center found that implementing a dual list for organs increases the supply of usable donor hearts for older adults. The program allows patients over 65 to receive transplants from donor hearts with minor repair needs, previously deemed unsuitable for younger patients. This approach improves patient survival ...
Researchers found that patients' immune systems counteract their normal response against donor organs, leading to graft acceptance. The discovery could help doctors monitor transplant patients more effectively and reduce dependence on immunosuppressants.
A new strategy involving radiation and bone marrow infusion appears to effectively reduce immune system attack in intestinal transplant recipients. Five patients who received irradiated intestines experienced no episodes of rejection for up to four months, while two control patients experienced typical rejection within weeks.
Researchers found that aerosol cyclosporine significantly reduced P-gp activity in lung transplant patients' immune cells, increasing effective drug absorption. The study aims to improve immunosuppressant therapy efficiency and reduce side effects.
A proposed kidney transplant system assigns priorities based on efficiency and equity points, reducing median waiting time from 24 to 14 months. The new policy increases the overall likelihood of transplantation from 45% to 61% and improves quality-adjusted life expectancy for African-Americans and women.
Hundreds of former bone marrow transplant survivors from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center will gather in Seattle for a reunion, sharing memories and hopes for the future. The event is part of the center's 25th anniversary celebration and includes activities such as presentations on latest research findings and workshops.
A large UM study found that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) reduces the risk of losing a transplanted kidney due to chronic failure better than azathioprine (AZA). MMF protects against kidney loss even when acute rejection prevention effects are eliminated, with nearly 86% of MMF-treated kidneys surviving four years.
Pediatric heart transplant patients with a specific cytokine gene profile may be identified as 'rejecters', indicating a higher risk of rejection. Researchers plan to evaluate the screening's value in tailoring immunosuppression to prevent serious episodes and graft loss.
A study by University of Pittsburgh surgeons found that liver cancer patients wait nearly a year for transplants, allowing tumors to grow too large to be cured. Modifying the policy could improve survival rates for Stage IV patients with four or more nodules less than 3 cm.
The meeting featured key findings on pediatric transplantation, mandatory liver sharing benefits, new tests predicting rejection, and advancements in immunosuppression. Researchers discovered a test that can predict organ rejection days or weeks before symptoms appear, reducing valuable treatment time.
A recent Mayo Clinic study found that patients with CMV disease used significantly more resources and had higher charges than those without infection. Preventive treatment of CMV in high-risk patients can significantly reduce these costs.
A new, less invasive approach to removing a kidney from living donors has more than doubled the chance of patients receiving a transplant from a friend or loved one. The technique, combined with an educational program, has increased living donor transplants by half, with 40% of recent transplants coming from living donors.
A statistical analysis of liver patient records helped resolve a public health policy dispute over organ allocation. The new system prioritizes the most severely ill patients, improving transplant rates and reducing waiting times.
Researchers found that cold temperature needed to preserve livers for transplant also kills sinusoidal endothelial cells, highly specialized liver cells. This discovery suggests a possible drug target and could lead to changes in liver transplant protocols.
A new study of 27,050 kidney transplants found that patients with locally matched kidneys require less long-term care and incur lower costs. The average cost to Medicare was $60,436 for identical HLA markers, increasing by 34% as mismatches rose from one to six.
Physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital have successfully induced a state of immune tolerance in a patient, allowing her to discontinue immunosuppressive drug treatment without rejecting a transplanted kidney. The breakthrough approach, known as mixed chimerism, has the potential to revolutionize organ transplantation for thousand...
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a new approach to bone marrow transplantation that induces mixed chimerism in four patients with treatment-resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Two patients achieved long-term remission without significant graft-versus-host disease, a dangerous complication of the procedure. The...
A study of over 50,000 transplant recipients found that kidney transplants from living donors are more cost-effective than dialysis treatments. The total cost of care within five years is roughly $47,000 less for living donor transplants compared to dialysis.
A new procedure called High PRA Rescue cleanses blood of harmful rejection antibodies, enabling six patients to receive successful kidney transplants from living donors. The innovative technique, combined with three new anti-rejection medications, has shown promising results in a two-week period.
Children between 2-18 years old had the best success with a five-year survival rate of 68%, followed by adults with Crohn's disease. Intestinal transplantation improves quality of life, reducing reliance on intravenous nutrition and hospitalizations.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that infusing donor bone marrow into the thymus significantly reduces rejection rates, especially with multiple doses. The study also showed promise in pediatric heart transplantation, where the procedure is both safe and feasible.
A new study of 27,050 kidney transplants reveals that the need for care within three years increases significantly as the number of mismatched surface markers increases. The cost of care rises by up to 34% with more mismatches, making well-matched organs a more cost-effective option.
Researchers found that improving kidney function in majority of patients can be achieved by reducing cyclosporine dosage and adding mycophenolate mofetil, potentially slowing kidney deterioration. The study showed an improvement in kidney function in 37 patients over two years.
The American Society of Transplantation will present over 1,000 presentations on various transplantation topics, including new findings on liver splitting for child recipients and embryonic stem cell transplantation. The conference also explores advancements in treating post-transplant patients without steroids and lung transplantation...
A new study presented at the American Lung Association/American Thoracic Society International Conference reveals that men are more likely to smoke when angry or anxious than women. The findings also suggest that male donors' lungs may be more prone to rejection in female recipients, increasing the risk of graft failure and death.
A new study by UC San Francisco health policy researchers found that patient characteristics and clinical practices significantly impact hospital resource use for liver transplantation. The study suggests guidelines to standardize resource use may lower costs, while findings highlight the need to reduce variations in practice patterns.
A study by University of Pittsburgh surgeons found that organs from marginal donors can be just as effective as ideal donor organs in pancreas transplants. The researchers accepted organs from donors over 45 years old, resulting in a high graft survival rate and improved quality of life for patients with diabetes.
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that lung transplant patients who received lungs preserved for more than six hours had similar survival rates compared to those stored for less than four hours. The study, which examined over 350 cases, suggests that the current organ allocation policy may need to be revised.
Researchers link transplant tolerance to immune system's response to noncytopathic micro-organisms, which can coexist with transplanted organs. The process involves a delicate balancing act between donor and recipient immune cells.
Researchers found that maternal HLA typing can provide clues about which sibling is the optimal organ donor. This discovery could improve kidney transplant selection by identifying suitable donors beyond HLA-identical siblings.
Researchers found that maternal tissue types can improve survival rates of slightly mismatched kidney transplants. The study suggests adding maternal HLA typing to the routine family workup could expand the pool of optimal donors.
Researchers at Kanagawa University have invented a technique to store human organs for up to 10 days using the natural preservative trehalose. The method involves flushing organs with trehalose solution and storing them in silica gel, allowing for longer-term preservation without significant tissue damage.