List of organ transplant donors and recipients

List of Organ Transplant Donors and Recipients

Organ transplantation is a medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and placed in the body of a recipient, to replace a damaged or missing organ. The donor and recipient may be at the same location, or organs may be transported from a donor site to another location. Organs and/or tissues that are transplanted within the same person's body are called autografts. Transplants that are recently performed between two subjects of the same species are called allografts. Allografts can either be from a living or cadaveric source.

Types of Organ Transplants

Organ transplants include kidney transplant, liver transplant, heart transplant, lung transplant, pancreas transplant, and intestine transplant. More rare types include face transplant and hand transplant.

Notable Donors and Recipients

Kidney Transplant

• Richard Herrick - In 1954, Richard Herrick received the first successful kidney transplant from his identical twin brother, Ronald Herrick, in a procedure performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

Liver Transplant

• Julie Rodriguez - In 1967, Julie Rodriguez was the recipient of the first human liver transplant performed by Dr. Thomas Starzl in Denver, Colorado.

Heart Transplant

• Louis Washkansky - In 1967, Louis Washkansky received the first human heart transplant from donor Denise Darvall in a groundbreaking operation performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in Cape Town, South Africa.

Lung Transplant

• James Hardy - In 1963, James Hardy received the first human lung transplant from an unidentified donor, in a procedure led by Dr. James D. Hardy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Pancreas Transplant

• Kelly - In 1966, the first pancreas transplant was performed on a patient known only as Kelly, by a team led by Dr. Richard C. Lillehei.

Intestine Transplant

• Alicia - In 1988, Alicia became the first successful recipient of an intestine transplant, in a procedure performed in London.

Ethical Considerations

The process of organ transplantation involves complex ethical considerations, including issues of consent, allocation of organs, and access to transplantation services. The Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism and the World Health Organization's Guiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation are key documents addressing these issues.

Organ Donation

Organ donation can be either from a living donor or a deceased donor. Living donors can donate a kidney, part of the liver, lung, intestine, or pancreas. Deceased donors can donate kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, pancreas, and intestines.

Conclusion

Organ transplantation has saved countless lives and improved the quality of life for many people around the world. The field continues to evolve with advancements in surgical techniques, immunosuppressive medications, and ethical practices.