Live organ donations can save time and increase transplant success

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Many people think of organ donation as something that occurs after the death of the donor; however, live organ donations are on the upswing in the U.S.

Last year, over 7,000 people donated live organs and tissue, saving tens of thousands of lives. Missouri tissue and organ registry coordinator Ian Collins said live organ donations provide convenience and a high transplant success rate.

"It reduces the wait time from years to sometimes months," Collins said. "The donor and the recipient can decide on a great day to have the procedure done."

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, kidneys are the most donated live organ. Since people can function with only one kidney, it is typical for those who need a kidney to receive one from a relative or close friend, as long as the blood types are a match.

"These days it is frequently an outpatient procedure," Collins said. "In addition to blood type, the test includes other factors such as the age of the donor and the size of the kidney to be donated."

Live liver donations are also growing in popularity, since only a portion of the liver needs to be donated. The liver is the only part of the body that can fully regenerate on its own. So, donating a portion of a healthy liver to someone in need means that the portion of the liver donated grows back, and the portion donated can become a fully functioning liver in a recipient.

Currently, the DHSS estimates that there are about 1,500 people on a waiting list for an organ donation in Missouri, and about 1,300 of those need a kidney. Collins said there is not waiting list or registry for live organs like there are for other kinds of organ donations. Also, even though most live organ and tissue donations are done between those who are related or acquainted with one another, it is possible to donate an organ or tissue anonymously to whomever is in need.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about 20 people die on average every day nationwide waiting for an organ donation or transplant. The nearest donation centers to the St. Joseph area are St. Luke's Hospital and KU Medical Center. For more information about organ donation, go to the Missouri organ donor site at donatelifemissouri.org. You can also contact the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at (888) 497-4564.