Cleveland Clinic Reached New Milestones in Organ Transplantation

In 2024, Cleveland Clinic transplanted 1,357 donated organs, which is up 9.8% from the number of organ transplants performed in 2023. The organs were heart, intestine, kidney, liver, lung and pancreas.

“We wish to thank the donors and their families for their gifts of life,” said Charles Miller, M.D., Cleveland Clinic’s enterprise director of transplantation. “New milestones reflect our dedication to saving more lives. Our global team of caregivers are committed to providing the highest standards of care based on our core values of quality, teamwork and innovation.”

Cleveland Clinic performs transplant surgeries at its main campus in Cleveland, Ohio; Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital in Florida; and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Number of transplants performed in 2024

• Cleveland Clinic’s main campus in Ohio transplanted 851 organs, which is up 8% compared to 2023.
• Cleveland Clinic Weston in Florida transplanted 265 organs, which is up 5% compared to 2023.
• Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi transplanted 241 organs, which is up 24% compared to 2023.

Use of technology, such as machine perfusion, makes more transplants possible

In Florida and Ohio, more transplants were possible in 2024 with the use of normothermic machine perfusion that preserves the donor organ in a warm, oxygen-and-nutrient-rich environment. As a result of using this technology, more donated organs can be assessed and safely preserved, resulting in more usable organs and less time for patients to wait for a lifesaving transplant.

In 2024, Cleveland Clinic’s liver transplant team published research that showed a significant reduction in waitlist times with that new technology.

Currently, machine perfusion is used for the heart, kidney, liver and lungs.

Robotic and laparoscopic surgery for living donation

Technology contributes to advancements in living donation for liver and kidney transplants.

Last year, the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi kidney transplant team, in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic colleagues in the U.S., performed its first simultaneous robotic kidney transplant procedure for a living donor and recipient using one robot.

At Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, all living-donor surgeries for liver transplant were done laparoscopically, which provides the living liver donor with the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.

Increase in multi-organ transplantation to save more lives

Cleveland Clinic patients often have complex medical cases. For some, a lifesaving treatment may involve transplant surgery of multiple organs. In 2024, the Cleveland Clinic global transplant team completed 78 multi-organ transplants, which is up 50% compared to 2023.

Among the milestones achieved in 2024, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi successfully performed the UAE’s first combined heart and double lung transplant to treat a patient with pulmonary hypertension.

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) announced all-time records for organ transplants in 2024.

Here are some of the inspiring Cleveland Clinic patients impacted by organ donation:

Grandfather Undergoes First-of-its-Kind Triple-Organ Transplant for Genetic Condition
Don Elliott has a genetic condition called Alpha-1 that was damaging his vital organs. He became the first person with this disorder in the U.S. to undergo a double-lung, kidney and liver transplant.
Read and watch Don’s story.

“I’m Getting a New Heart!” Young Boy Gets Second Chance at Life After Heart Transplant
“I’m getting a new heart!” We won’t forget the day 6-year-old John-Henry Lee learned a donor heart was available for him. John-Henry had been waiting for a life-saving heart transplant for six months before he and his family received the news. The first thing he wanted to do after he found out was tell the caregivers who had been by his side throughout his hospital stay.
Read John-Henry’s story.
Watch John-Henry share the good news on Cleveland Clinic's Instagram or YouTube.

Rare Liver Condition Leads to a Transplant of Hope
Ken Hollander never wanted to have a liver transplant – until it became his only option. Ken had primary sclerosing cholangitis or PSC, a rare progressive disease that ultimately stopped his liver from functioning properly. Transplant surgeons at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital in Florida performed a successful surgery. Ken shares his gratitude for organ donation and the care team he trusted to save his life.
Read and watch Ken’s story.