Organ transplants
Organ transplantation involves removing organs from a donor and transplanting them into someone who may be very ill or dying from organ failure. It can save the life of the person who receives the organ.
Types of organ and tissue transplants
Organs that can be transplanted in Australia include the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, intestine and pancreas. Tissue can also be transplanted, including heart valves, bone, tendons, ligaments, skin and parts of the eye.
When are organ transplants needed?
You may need an organ transplant if you have an organ that is not working any more (end-stage organ failure). An organ transplant is usually considered after other possible treatments have been tried. It may be an option if specialists think the transplant can save your life.
A transplant can also be used to improve someone’s quality of life – for example, a kidney transplant for a person who has experienced kidney failure. And a tissue transplant may, for example, help someone who has suffered severe burns to a sensitive area of skin, such as the face.
Who can donate organs and tissue?
People can donate organs when they die (deceased donor) or they can donate a kidney or part of their liver while they are still alive (live donor). A living donor is usually a relative or close friend of the person who needs the kidney or liver transplant.
To read more about organ or tissue donation or to register as a donor, visit www.donatelife.org.au.
Important issues to consider
Whether or not you have an organ transplant is for you, your family and loved ones, and your healthcare team to decide. It is important to understand your condition and the potential benefits and risks of organ transplant, as with any medical treatment.
You can find out more about the various organ transplants here:
Questions to ask your healthcare team
To learn about your choices and what may lie ahead, consider asking your healthcare team about the following issues. The answers to these questions will be based on your individual circumstances:
- How long will I need to wait for the organ transplant?
- What are the risks involved in the organ transplant?
- What are the benefits?
- What are my alternatives to having a transplant?
- What will happen during the procedure?
- What can I expect immediately after the transplant? What about a few weeks to months after the transplant?
- What is the recovery time after the transplant?
- What are the possible complications of the transplant?
- How much will the transplant cost?
- What post-transplant treatments, including medications, will I need? How much will they cost?
- How long will the transplanted organ last for? What is my life expectancy with a transplant?
healthdirect's question builder is a tool to help you create a question list for your doctor’s or specialist's appointment. Go to the Question Builder, prepare your list, then print or email it so you remember what you want to ask.
Impact on your emotions
An organ transplant can affect not just your body but how you feel. Some people experience stress from possible organ rejection or side effects from medicines. Others find it difficult to adapt to their new situation.
It may help to speak with your healthcare team about how you feel following the procedure. You may also want to contact patient support groups to hear from people who have also had an organ transplant.
Life after an organ transplant
If you have had an organ transplant, you will probably need to take medications and have regular medical appointments for the rest of your life.
Rejection occurs when your body treats the transplanted organ as foreign and attacks it. Anti-rejection medications work on the immune system to stop this from happening. However, anti-rejection medicines may bring a higher risk of side effects such as infection. You and your healthcare team will usually need to work together to balance the risk of organ rejection with the risk of side effects.
It is also important to live a healthy lifestyle to help your transplanted organ last as long as possible. This usually includes things such as eating healthily, not smoking and getting enough physical activity. Your healthcare team will probably give you specific advice on taking care of your transplanted organ.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: October 2020
