Importance of Organ Donations

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CLEVELAND - April is Donate Life Month.

Reports show more than 100,000 people, including children, are currently waiting for an organ transplant here in the United States.

And for some, that wait can last months or even years.

“There are many individuals that are waiting for organ transplantation, and unfortunately, there are not as many donors that happen from year to year, though it has been gradually increasing through education and online resources that are providing exposure to the necessity for more organs to become available,” said Bobby Zervos, MD, liver transplant specialist at Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Zervos said the organ donation process is extremely thorough to ensure the organ is healthy for transplant and a good match for the recipient.

On average, one organ donor can save up to eight lives.

He said while wait times for organ donations can be long, new advancements in technology seem to be helping.

Research has found organ perfusion pumps can improve the quality of certain organs that would have previously been considered high risk.

The pump works by circulating blood through the organ after it's been removed from the body.

“The results have been phenomenal. So, it’s not only that we’re now able to use more organs, but it’s also improving the quality of the organs, even to the point where we’re putting healthy quality organs on the pump because that revitalization that takes place during that process can help even the highest quality of organs be that much better,” he explained.

Dr. Zervos said people also have the option of being a living donor, which means they can donate part of an organ while they're still alive to someone else in need.