Basics Of Organ Donation That Every Medical Professional Must Know

Organ donation is the process of giving your organs or tissues to another person who needs them. This can be done while you are alive or posthumously. The heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, and intestines are the organs that can be donated. Tissues that can be donated include the corneas, skin, heart valves, blood vessels, cartilage, and bone.

Thousands of people die waiting for an organ transplant, every year. By donating your organs, you can help give someone a second chance at life, and that is why it is so important. Let’s discuss the various aspects of organ donation.

Organs that can be donated

The act of organ donation is a profound gift that can transform the lives of recipients. Each of these vital organs, when donated, can provide a new lease on life, and offer hope to those in need. The organs that can be donated are:

●       Kidneys: One of the most demanded organs for donation. This is because they remove toxins from the body and are vital excretory organs. A person can live his or her life even with one kidney. This means that living donors can donate one kidney. Usually, the lifespan of a transplanted kidney varies depending on a number of factors. One of the major factors is the donor, whether it is a living donor, deceased donor, or living relative.

●       Heart: A blood-pumping machine of our body, a heart consistently works without any breaks. It can survive for 4-6 hours after it is taken from the donor. So, it had to be inserted into the patients within a reasonable time frame.

●       Lungs: An integral part of our respiratory system, lungs also affect the blood supply and can increase blood pressure too. Both single-lung and double-lung transplants can only be performed on donors who are deceased. Living donors can donate only one lung lobe, but they need to understand that it will never regenerate.

●       Pancreas: This organ plays an important role in the digestive system because it produces fluids that help break down food. The whole pancreas can only be acquired from a deceased donor. Living donors can donate a portion of their pancreas without losing the functionality of this organ.

●       Intestine: It helps in the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients. It is usually taken from a dead donor, but in rare cases, a part of the intestine can be acquired from a living person. 

Tissue that can be donated

In addition to organs, various tissues can also be donated, extending the scope of life-enhancing contributions beyond vital organs to include a broader range of biological tissues, such as:

●       Cornea: It is one of the main components of the eyes focusing power and saving our eyes from bacteria and infection. It can either be transplanted as a whole or in parts. Corneas of every age group can be used for donations, but people in these age groups should be healthy.

●       Bones: Bones are important as they provide a strong framework for the body. The situation of bone transplant arises when bones become cancerous.

●       Skin: One of the main sense organs, skin saves our body from allergens, bugs, etc. Its transplant is required in cases of grafting for burn or acid attack victims. It can be used for the reconstruction of post-mastectomy breasts.

●       Veins: Veins are important because it play a crucial role in blood transport within the body. Donated veins are used for cardiac bypass.

Tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and heart valves are also eligible for donation.

Process for organ donation

From the Doctor’s end:

Doctors associated with the organ donation follow the following procedures:

·         They are required to conduct a medical assessment of the donor and receiver and verify medical documents.

·         They perform the required test depending on the organ to be transplanted to ensure the medical compatibility of the donor.

·         In the case of deceased donors, they need to put the donors on artificial breathing and do the necessary procedures to ensure the organs remain suitable for transplantation.

·         Then they go ahead with the organ retrieval process.

·         Communication is an effective key to a successful organ donation and transplantation process.  

·         In case of a deceased donor, giving the body back to the family and in the case of, living donors, post-operative care is a doctor’s crucial responsibility.

From the Donor’s end:

The Organ Retrieval Banking Organisation (ORBO) orchestrates the noble endeavour of organ donation. You can make this life-changing commitment by obtaining a donor form. Here's how:

●     Obtain a donor form from ORBO through a personal visit, mail, or their website (www.orbo.org). No fees are required.

●       Complete the form in the presence of two witnesses, who should be close relatives.

●       After filling it out and having it endorsed by your nominees, send it to ORBO.

●       You will receive organ donor cards from ORBO; keep them secure.

●       In the event of an unregistered individual's passing, family members can still contribute by signing a consent form.

●       After providing written consent, the process of organ donation can commence within hours.

●       A dedicated transplant coordination team oversees every aspect of the organ donation process.

●       The body is then returned to the family in a dignified condition, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion.

Organ Donation Simplified

Organ Donation Simplified is a comprehensive organ donation online course that is designed specifically for medical students. This online learning for organ donation course covers a wide range of topics related to organ donation, including the basics of organ donation, the organ donation process, the ethical aspects of organ donation, and the role of medical professionals in organ donation. The best online donation course also includes case studies and real-world examples to help you understand the organ donation process and the impact that organ donation can have on people's lives.

This course also comprises organ donation video lectures, online education for organ procurement, organ donor awareness courses, etc. Kindly opt for this because it is a great online resource for organ donation education.

Conclusion

Opting for the best online donation programs and courses will be of great benefit to medical professionals in understanding the organ donation process. Also, by promoting awareness and knowledge of organ donation, we can help to increase the number of people who register as organ donors and the number of organs that are available for transplant.