Organ donation: how it is done and who can donate

Organ donation is made from the removal of an organ or tissue from a voluntary donor or from a person who died and who authorized the removal and donation of their organs and subsequent transplantation to a person who needs that organ so that they can continue your life.

To be an organ donor in Brazil, it is necessary to inform the family of this desire, as there is no need to keep it registered in any document. Currently it is possible to donate kidneys, liver, heart, pancreas and lungs, as well as tissues such as cornea, skin, bones, cartilage, blood, heart valves and bone marrow.

Some organs, such as a kidney or a piece of liver, for example, can be donated in life, however most organs that can be transplanted can only be taken from people who have had confirmed brain death.

Who can donate organs

Virtually all healthy people can donate organs and tissues, even when they are alive, because certain organs can be shared. However, most donations happen in cases of:

• Cerebral death, which is when the brain completely ceases to function, and therefore, the person will never recover. This usually happens due to accidents, falls or after a stroke. In this case, virtually all healthy organs and tissues can be donated; After cardiac arrest, as due to infarction or arrhythmias: in this case, they can only donate tissues, such as the cornea, vessels, skin, bones and tendons, because as the circulation was stopped for a while, this can impair the functioning of the organs, such as the heart and kidneys, for example; People who died at home, can donate only the corneas, and up to 6 hours after death, because the stopped blood circulation can damage the other organs, putting the life of the person who would receive at risk; In case of anencephaly, which is when the baby has a malformation and does not have the brain: in this case, there is a short life span and, after confirmation of death, all of his organs and tissues can be donated to other babies who are in need.

There is no age limit for donating organs, but it is essential that they are functioning perfectly, as the donor's health status will determine whether the organs and tissues can be transplanted or not.

Who cannot donate

The donation of organs and tissues is not allowed for people who died due to infectious diseases or that seriously damaged the organism, as the organ's function may be compromised or the infection can be transferred to the person who will receive the organ.

Thus, the donation is not indicated for people who have had severe kidney failure or liver, heart or lung failure, as in these cases there is great impairment of the circulation and functioning of these organs, in addition to cancer with metastasis and infectious and transmissible diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis B, C or Chagas disease, for example. In addition, organ donation is contraindicated in cases of serious infections by bacteria or viruses that have reached the bloodstream.

Organ donation is also contraindicated if the prospective donor is in a coma. However, if brain death is confirmed after some tests, the donation can be made.

How the transplant is done

After authorization from the donor or his family, he will undergo tests that will assess his health conditions and compatibility with the person who will receive it. The removal of the organ is done in the operating room, as in other surgeries, and then the donor's body will be closed carefully by the surgeon.

The recovery of a person who received an organ or tissue transplant is the same as that of any surgery, with rest and use of pain medications, such as Ibuprofen or Dipyrone, for example. However, in addition to this, the person will have to take medicines called immunosuppressants, throughout his life, to avoid the rejection of the new organ by the body.

You can only choose who will receive the organs and tissues when the donation is made in life. Otherwise, you will receive who is on the waiting list in the transplant center queue, in order of waiting time and need.

What can be donated in life

The organs and tissues that can be donated while still alive are the kidney, part of the liver, bone marrow and blood. This is possible because the donor will be able to lead a normal life even after these donations.

Liver

Only part of the liver, about 4 cm, can be donated through this surgery, and the recovery is the same as a minor abdominal surgery, in a few days. Due to its capacity for regeneration, this organ reaches its ideal size in about 30 days, and the donor person can have a normal life, without harming his health.

Kidney

Kidney donation does not harm the life of the donor person, and happens through a few hours procedure. Recovery is fast and, if all goes well, in up to 1 or 2 weeks, you will be able to be at home and the return to medical appointments is done for follow-up.

In addition, for the donation of part of the liver and kidney, the person will have to authorize this donation, which can be made only for a relative up to fourth degree or, if it is for non-relatives, only with authorization from the courts. The donation of these organs is done after a complete evaluation of a general practitioner, through physical, blood and images exams, such as computed tomography, which will check if there is genetic and blood compatibility, and if the donor is healthy, to decrease the chances of harm your body and who will receive the transplant.

Bone marrow

To donate bone marrow, it is necessary to register in the database of the national registry of bone marrow donors, of the Ministry of Health, which will contact the donor if someone in need is compatible. The procedure is very simple, with anesthesia, and lasts about 90 minutes, and the discharge can already happen the next day. Learn more about the steps for bone marrow donation.

Blood

In this donation about 450 ml of blood is collected, which can only be made by people over 50 kg, and the person can donate blood every 3 months, for men, and 4 months, for women. In order to donate blood, one must seek the blood center of the city at any time, as these donations are always necessary for the treatment of many people, in surgeries or emergencies. Find out what are the diseases that prevent blood donation.

The donation of blood and bone marrow can be done several times and for different people, with no limits as long as the person wants and is healthy for this.