What is Living and Deceased Donor Transplants? - Benefits and Challenges

What is Living and Deceased Donor Transplants? - Benefits and Challenges

A Living donor transplant is a 2-part surgery in which a living organ or tissues are harvested from a live donor, and then transplanted to a patient in need. A Deceased donor transplant is a transplant surgery in which the organs and tissues are harvested from the donor after they are brain dead.

Living donor transplants are known to have better outcomes, as the transplant recipient usually receives an immediate donation from a family member, with whom they have high genetic compatibility. This is beneficial on 2 counts – The recipient patient’s health has not reached critical status yet (so they are stronger for recovery), and the donated organ has a significant genetic similarity (reducing the chances of rejection by the recipient’s immune system). Living donor transplants are easier to schedule, plan and execute efficiently, and hence makes paired donations and donation chains possible. There are, however, minor surgical risks and financial costs to the donor which cannot be fully eliminated.

Deceased donor transplants are a lifeline for terminal patients with rare blood types, helping us combat the major organ shortage as a society. It is a selfless act, to choose to save someone else’s life, even as the donor loses their own. The deceased donor also has the chance to save multiple lives, as they can donate organs such as the pancreas, heart and both lungs as well. However, deceased donor transplants must be timed correctly, and can become a logistical nightmare, especially if the family of the donor withdraws consent after they have passed.

A Living Donor Transplant is a surgical procedure in which living organs or tissues from a donor, who is still alive, are extracted and transplanted into a patient who needs it. According to the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), which regulates organ transplantation in India, a record high of 12,791 living donor transplants were performed in the country in 2022. Living donor transplants have increased in the last decade, with the advancement of medical sciences, as the risks to the donor have significantly decreased.

A majority of the live donor transplants performed are liver or kidney transplants. The donor must possess 2 healthy kidneys in order to qualify for a live-kidney donation. The donor can comfortably donate one of their healthy kidneys to a patient in need, and live a perfectly healthy life while the remaining kidney performs the necessary functions in removing wastes from the body. During a live liver transplant, the donor donates only a lobe of their liver. The remainder of the liver regenerates and grows back to nearly its original size, without any compromise in function. According to transplant surgeons, living donor transplants are also possible with tissues which have the capacity to regenerate – such as skin, bone marrow, and blood-forming cells.

Live donor transplants are of 2 types – Directed donations and Non-directed donations. Directed donations are conditional, wherein the donor agrees to donate their organ or tissue to a specific recipient. This is usually someone they know, such as a parent, sibling, child, spouse or friend. Non-directed donations, or altruistic donations, are when the donor does not specify the recipient, and instead chooses to help out a stranger purely due to good will. The transplant match is made by the regulating authority based on organ compatibility and the status of the recipient. Of the 2 types, in the case of living donors, directed transplants are more common.

Deceased organ donation is the process of donation an organ or tissues for the purpose of transplant, after the donor’s death. The donor must consent to the organ donation while they are still alive, and of sound mind, by registering with the NOTTO. You can visit the NOTTO website and register yourself online, if you wish to be a deceased organ donor. The donor receives an organ donor card after registering, which they must keep carefully, and inform their next of kin about. Even if a deceased person has registered with NOTTO and has an organ donor card, their next of kin must consent at the time of donation for it to be legal. When the donor’s time comes, they must be admitted to a hospital, and after brain death is declared, they need to be kept on a ventilator to keep the organs viable for harvesting. A potential organ donor who has passed away at home, or anywhere outside the hospital, may not be eligible to donate their organs.

Deceased organ donation is initiated only once the donor is declared brain dead. Since the donor is brain dead, they can donate organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestines, eyes, heart valves, skin, bones and blood vessels. In case of deceased organ transplants, it is crucial to act quickly, as the organs must be transplanted into the recipient while they are still viable. The donor tissue must be matched to a potential recipient, and is given to the compatible candidate highest on the transplant list maintained by NOTTO. The location of the recipient is also taken into account, as the organ cannot be transported long distances before being transplanted.

Deceased organ donations are usually non-directed organ donations, done purely out of the desire to do good deeds even once one has transcended this world.

At Kauvery Hospital, with branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, we are committed to providing exceptional care for both living and deceased donor transplants. Our skilled medical team and state-of-the-art facilities ensure optimal outcomes for transplant patients. Trust us to guide you through every step of the transplant process with compassion and expertise.

What is a living donor transplant?
A living donor transplant uses a healthy organ or tissue from a living person, often a family member, to help someone in need.

What are the benefits of living donor transplant?
Living donor transplants offer better outcomes, immediate organ function, easier scheduling, and higher genetic compatibility.

What risks are associated with living donor transplants?
The donor may face surgical risks, potential financial costs during recovery, and emotional or ethical challenges.

What is a deceased donor transplant?
A deceased donor transplant involves using organs from a donor after they have been declared brain dead, following family consent.

How do deceased donor transplants help patients?
They can save multiple lives at once, address organ shortages, and provide options for patients with rare blood types.

What challenges do decease donor transplants face?
They require precise timing, quick logistical coordination, and have a higher risk of organ rejection compared to living donor transplants.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 •  Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801