Patients & Caregivers
Organ transplantation is a medical procedure in which surgeons replace an organ—like a heart, kidney, or liver—with a new one from a donor, either living or deceased. A transplant can give someone a new lease on life when their own organ is not working well.
If you are considering a transplant, it is crucial to learn about the transplantation process. Knowing about the procedure, and how to care for your health after transplantation, can help ensure the success of the transplant and improve your quality of life.
On this page, we provide information to help in planning for your organ transplant journey.
Recipient Information for Organ Transplantation
The process for preparing for an organ transplant surgery involves testing to find out if a patient is a good candidate for transplantation and to see if the donated organ is a good match for the patient.
- First, doctors assess a patient’s medical history and conduct tests to help improve the chances that their body won’t reject the new organ.
- Once these tests are done, potential organ transplant recipients are placed on a waiting list until a suitable organ becomes available.
- When a recipient and a donor organ are matched, the recipient receives the new organ through transplantation surgery.
These steps to prepare for a transplantation surgery vary based on the type of organ under consideration.
Kidney Transplantation
For kidney transplantation, doctors assess blood type compatibility and tissue matches. They perform tests to check for underlying health issues that might affect the success of the transplant. Since people with two healthy kidneys can live with one, living donors can be considered in addition to deceased donors. Doctors evaluate living donors’ health and compatibility during the pre-transplant process.
Liver Transplantation
For liver transplantation, doctors study a patient’s liver disease severity, overall health, and potential for complications. They conduct blood tests, imaging scans, and assessments of liver function. The patient’s position on the waiting list is determined by a scoring system, which considers factors like urgency and severity. Like kidney transplants, liver transplants can be performed with organs from living donors.
What Happens Post-Transplantation?
After a successful organ transplant, recipients need ongoing follow-up care to ensure the long-term success of the transplant and to monitor for potential complications. It is vital that patients follow the advice of their transplant team and keep up with regular medical appointments. While follow up care varies according to the type of transplant, here are some common aspects of follow-up care after transplantation surgery:
Medication management
Transplant recipients usually need to take medications to prevent their immune system from rejecting the new organ. Strict adherence to the medication schedule is crucial, and recipients are often educated about the importance of taking their medicines as prescribed.
Regular medical checkups
Recipients will have scheduled visits with their transplant team for regular medical checkups. These visits allow doctors to monitor the function of the transplanted organ, assess overall health, and adjust medications as needed.
Laboratory testing
Regular blood tests are conducted to monitor organ function, medication levels, and check for any signs of rejection or other issues.
Infection prevention
Drugs that help prevent organ rejection can weaken the immune system, making transplant recipients more vulnerable to infections. Patients are educated about how to reduce their risk of infections, such as practicing good hygiene, avoiding contact with sick people, and getting all recommended vaccinations.
Lifestyle changes
Adopting a healthy lifestyle by following dietary guidelines, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, and managing stress can contribute to the success of the transplant.
Signs of rejection and complications
Transplant recipients are educated about the signs of organ rejection and potential complications. It is important for patients to contact their healthcare provider if they notice any of these signs.
Transplant Genomics Tests for Improving Long-Term Patient Outcomes
Transplant Genomics offers non-invasive genomic biomarker testing to improve long-term transplant outcomes. Our simple blood tests help doctors look for early signs of graft injury to help improve post-transplant therapy. Our tests include:
For more information about the tests available from Transplant Genomics, explore our Frequently Asked Questions page
Learn more about patient care and coverage for Eurofins Transplant Genomics testing before a transplant
Transplantation Recipient Resources
Undergoing an organ transplantation is not a quick or easy process, and it’s important for transplant recipients and their caregivers to find ways to cope with the emotional and psychological aspects of transplantation. Many transplant centers offer support groups, counseling services, and resources to help recipients manage the challenges associated with the transplant journey.
Organ recipients can find valuable information and support through transplant centers, national organizations, online communities, and local support groups.
Here are some useful links for transplant recipients:
Organ Donor Transplant Center Resources
An organ donor transplant center is a specialized facility that evaluates potential donors, coordinates organ retrieval, and manages transplantation. A transplant center matches organs to recipients based on compatibility and urgency.
If your health team has suggested that a transplant may be in your future, ask them about the centers in your area. You can also explore national websites like United Network for Organ Sharing and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to learn about centers near you.
Additional resources from Transplant Genomics
At Transplant Genomics, our patient-first philosophy guides everything we do. We are here for you.