Rubi Herrera Professor Bridges Biology 1409 August 07, 2013 Organ Transplant Adults can consent their approval of donating organs in case death while they are alive. This can happen by signing up when acquiring driver’s license. If this selfapproval is not made, a family member can assist with the decision. Not every person that dies can be a donor. Most donors have a death related to brain dead, head trauma or stroke. The Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) contacts Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) to match recipients. When matching patients they look at things such as blood type, height, weight. They also consider the waiting time and severity of illness among other things. After the doctors ensure that the patient is brain death and nothing can be done. They notify the OPO and the waiting patient is brought immediately to the hospital to ensure that the organs stay healthy. Organs are removed from deceased patient in a surgical operation just like if they were alive. They are also surgically closed to not affect open-caskets funerals. Before, removed from the donor, each organ is flushed free of blood with a specially prepared ice-cold preservation solution that contains electrolytes and nutrients. The transplant have to be done fair quickly and some organs are more delicate than other. Hearts and lungs must be transplanted within approximately four hours after being removed from the donor. Livers can be preserved between 12 - 18 hours; a pancreas can be preserved 8 - 12 hours; intestines can be preserved approximately 8 hours; kidneys can be preserved 24 - 48 hours. Next, the patient must ensure extreme careful care. After surgery doctors will continue with regular checkups and laboratory tests. Immunosuppressant medications are anti-rejection medications that should be taken for at least 6-months. Get to know pharmacist to ensure medication are taking correctly. They also should keep a healthy life style, eat well, and exercise regularly. Most organ donations are successful but there are some rejection cases. This is cause by the transplanted organ. Even though rejection is rare it happens because medications are not taken as follow. After an organ transplant, you may experience shortterm medication side effects such as: hair growth, acne, mood swings, round face, enlarged gums, and increase of weight. Overall, organ donation is a very important thing. There are thousands of patient waiting to be save. The new technology has made it easier to ensure that most organ donations successful. Also the body of the deceased person its left in good shape to be able to perform a open-casket funeral. Organ donation can save many lives and to me is something back to society and leaving your mark in the world even after you are dead. Bibliography "After an Organ Transplant: Medication, Preventing Rejection, Diet, and More." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 07 Aug. 2013. "Organ Transplantation: The Process." Donate the Gift of LIfe. US Government, n.d. Web. 07 Aug. 2013. Organ Transplant Process. Rep. New York Presbyterian Hospital, n.d. Web. 07 Aug. 2013.