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U.S. system for organ procurement and transplantation
1Recovery Services, Washington Regional Transplant Consortium, Washington, DC 20037.
American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
|July 1, 1992
Summary
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) manages the US organ transplant waiting list and data. Local organ procurement organizations (OPOs) facilitate the donation process from donor identification to organ recovery.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Public Health
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- The National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 established a federally funded organ procurement and transplantation network.
- The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) operates as a private, non-profit organization overseeing this network.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the establishment and responsibilities of the organ procurement and transplantation network in the US.
- To outline the process of receiving an organ transplant through the UNOS system.
- To detail the components of the organ donation process.
Main Methods:
- UNOS maintains a central waiting list for cadaveric organ transplants.
- UNOS collects data from transplant centers via a scientific registry.
- Local organ procurement organizations (OPOs) manage donor referral, evaluation, consent, and organ recovery.
Main Results:
- Over 25,000 individuals are on the national waiting list for cadaveric organs.
- Fewer than 5,000 actual organ donors were recorded in 1991.
- OPOs coordinate the eight-component organ donation process, incurring costs billed to transplant centers.
Conclusions:
- UNOS plays a crucial role in managing organ transplant waiting lists and data.
- Local OPOs are essential resources for hospitals in facilitating organ donation.
- The organ donation process involves multiple coordinated steps managed by OPOs.