İçindekiler

What is Organ Donation? How is it done?

Organ donation is a great responsibility both individually and socially. Promoting organ donation can be a beacon of hope for patients awaiting organ transplants. Many countries organize campaigns to raise awareness of the public about organ donation and work to increase the number of donors. A conscious society can contribute to saving more lives by increasing the number of both donors and recipients in organ transplant processes. Promoting organ donation is of vital value for many patients waiting for organs, and every member of society has the potential to contribute to this process.

What is Organ Donation?

Organ donation or organ transplantation is the process of transplanting an organ from a healthy donor to people who have lost the function of a particular organ or tissue. The main purpose of organ transplantation is to prolong the patient’s survival and improve the quality of life. In the medical literature, these procedures are studied in the fields of immunosuppression, regenerative biology, and transplant surgery. Recent studies aim to increase the treatment success of patients by shedding light on the immunological adaptation process of organ transplantation.

How is Organ Donation Done?

Steps you need to take for organ donation;

Apply: When you decide to donate organs, you should first contact a health care provider. Organ donation in Turkey can be done in public hospitals, university hospitals, and private hospitals.
Obtaining an Organ Donation Card: After providing the necessary information about organ donation in health institutions, you will be given an “Organ Donation Card”. This card can indicate the organs you want to donate and is associated with your credentials.
Informing Relatives: When organ donation is done in Turkey, it is important to inform your family members about this decision, as the relatives of the donor must also approve this situation. This helps the process go quickly and smoothly.
Application via e-Government: It is also possible to donate organs via e-Government in Turkey. For this, you can log in to your e-Government account and start the donation process from the organ donation menu.

What are the Conditions for Organ Donation?

There are some legal and medical criteria required for organ donation:

Age Limit: Anyone who is over the age of 18 and in good mental health can donate organs. Parental consent is required for people under the age of 18.
Health Status: The organs to be donated by the organ donor must be suitable and healthy for transplantation. Therefore, conditions such as chronic diseases, infectious diseases, and cancer are kept under medical consideration.
Legal Requirements: Organ donation and transplantation in Turkey is regulated by the “Law on Organ and Tissue Removal, Storage, Vaccination and Transplantation” No. 2238 issued in 1979. This law ensures that donation transactions are carried out in line with the request of the donor.
Consent of the Family: Even if the person has donated organs while they are alive, the consent of the family is required for organ donation after death. That is why it is important to inform the family and get their consent.

Which Organs and Tissues Can Be Donated?

The organs that can be donated through organ donation are:

Heart
Lung
Kidney
Liver
Pancreas
Small intestine

The tissues that can be donated by organ donation are as follows;

Cornea (eye tissue)
Bone marrow
Heart valves
Skin

are textures such as.

Types of Organ Transplantation

Organ transplantation is divided into two main groups: cadaveric transplantation and living transplantation . In cadaveric transplantation, organs taken from a brain-dead but healthy person are used. Live transplantation, on the other hand, is a preferred method, especially in organs such as kidneys and liver. Transplants from living donors shorten the waiting time and allow faster access to patients.

Organ Transplants from Live to Live and Cadaver to Live

In live-to-live transplants, kidney and liver tissue are most commonly transplanted. Kidney transplantation is usually done by taking a single kidney from a healthy person and transplanting it to the patient. In liver transplants, a part of the liver is removed; Because this organ has the capacity to renew itself. Cadaver-to-living transplants, on the other hand, are usually performed from brain-dead donors and include vital organs such as the heart, lungs and pancreas. Since the transplantation process is more planned in live transplants, the risk of operation is minimized and successful results can be obtained.

Who Can Be a Donor for Organ Donation?

There are some criteria determined by the Ministry of Health in order to be able to donate organs and tissues. In Turkey, people who want to donate organs

It is imperative that he is over the age of 18 and of sound mind.
In the case of living donors, the health condition of the person who will donate the organ must be suitable.
In cadaveric donations, the organs of individuals who are brain dead and whose family permission has been obtained can be used.
It is also necessary that the blood type and tissues of the donor candidate are compatible with the recipient. In both cases, donor selection and compatibility criteria are important for the donated organ to maintain its function for a long time.
Especially in high-risk organs such as lung transplantation, the lung capacity and oxygen-carrying capacity of the donor are taken into account.

Who Can Have Organ Transplantation?

The organ functions of the people who will undergo organ transplantation must be severely damaged. In chronic and progressive diseases such as kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, heart and lung diseases, organ transplantation is an effective treatment method to increase the life expectancy and quality of life of patients. Patients who will undergo organ transplantation are registered in national or international transplant lists and enter the waiting period for the appropriate organ to be found. During the waiting period, the general health status of the patients is closely monitored as it can affect transplant success rates.

Post-Transplant Recovery Process

The recovery process after organ transplantation varies depending on the type of organ and the general health status of the patient. Patients use immunosuppressive drugs to prevent the immune system from rejecting the organ after the transplant. Since these drugs increase the risk of infection, patients need to pay attention to hygiene, regular check-ups and a healthy lifestyle. Especially the first six months after transplantation is a critical period and it is observed whether the organ adapts or not. In various studies, it is stated that psychological support and diet positively affect the healing process.

Choosing a Suitable Center for Transplantation

The choice of a center for organ transplantation is a factor that directly affects success rates. The center to be preferred should have an experienced team and advanced technological equipment. A multidisciplinary team specializing in organ transplantation can successfully manage every stage of the transplant process. The World Health Organization (WHO) draws attention to the importance of accreditation in transplant centers and recommends that centers with a high success rate be preferred. In addition, the presence of post-transplant follow-up services is another important criterion affecting the choice of center.