Organ transplants increase only slightly

Public view of donating for transplants becomes more positive as years go by.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
People have a more positive opinion of donating organs for transplant than they did years ago, surveys show, but the number of actual transplants from live and deceased donors increased by only two – from 280 to 282 – in 2009 compared to the previous year.
Israel Transplant, the National Organ Transplant Center, issued its report for 2009 on Monday. It reported a 16-percent increase in the number of people waiting for an organ – 1,069 at the beginning of 2010 compared to 923 at the start of 2009; most of these individuals need kidneys. Israelis gave seven organs per one million residents last year, compared to 14.3 in Austria, 4.9 in the US, 4.2 in Spain and 3.3 in Germany.
The registry of potential donors (with ADI Cards) increased by about 45,000, to 516,000, in 2009.
Israel Transplant used a Ynet Web campaign and sign-up events in Aroma cafes, campaigns in universities, military bases, shopping centers, Israel Railways stations, festival and mass events to increase the number of registered. A ceremony of appreciation to donors’ families was held at Beit Hanassi, a radio and bus ad campaign was conducted, and a children’s book explaining organ donation was published.
For the first time, the “half mark” of families willing to donate organs from deceased loved ones was reached. It went from 46.4% in 2008 to 54.3% in 2009. Sixty-nine families actually donated organs, compared to 56 whose loved ones could have supplied them to others but who turned down the request of hospital transplant coordinators.
Of the 282 transplants last year, only 17 were performed in children, compared to 23 in 2008.
Fifty-four livers were donated in 2009 – the same number as during theprevious year; 93 kidneys from deceased donors in 2009 (compared to 100in 2008); and 47 lungs in 2009 (compared to 52 in the previous year).Live donors gave 69 kidneys and four liver lobes last year, asignificant increase from 58 kidneys and liver lobes in 2008.
There has also been a slight increase in the donation of tissue – 682corneas (compared to 636 in 2008); 47 donations of skin for burns (41),30 heart valves (to replace damaged ones, compared to 33), and 17 bonedonations for orthopedic surgery after removal due to cancer and otherpurposes (compared to 16).
Those interested in obtaining donor cards can call ADI at (03) 902-8608.