Transplant Living: Organ Donation and Transplantation Information for Patients


Organ Facts Heart Lung Heart/Lung Kidney Pancreas Kidney/Pancreas Liver Intestine Diseases Polycystic kidneys Diabetes mellitus COPD Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Cystic fibrosis Hypertension Coronary heart disease Cardiomyopathy Short gut syndrome Cirrhosis Hepatitis Living with Devices Artificial Hearts LVADS ICDs Pacemakers Hemodialysis Peritoneal Dialysis Liver Support Systems About Organ Allocation Matching Organs Waiting for an Organ Policies Getting on the List The National Waiting List People You Should Know Questions to Ask Selecting a Hospital Which Hospital Is Best For You? Other Options to Consider Financing a Transplant The Costs Social Services Funding Sources Care Following a Transplant Financial Resources Directory Financial Q & A Preparing for a Transplant Waiting for Your Transplant Emotional Aspects of Waiting Q & A		Getting on the List Questions to Ask Your Transplant Team Patients usually have many questions about transplantation and their health as they go through the transplant process. In addition to financial questions, below is a list of issues and concerns you may want to discuss with your transplant team. Be sure to write your questions down and bring them to the appointment. You might also want to bring a trusted friend or family member with you and ask them to take notes. Questions about Your Evaluation What should I bring with me? What should I do to prepare for the appointment? Does your center offer parking permits or overnight accommodations? What does the evaluation and testing process include? How does it affect whether I am put on the list? Before the transplant Who will tell me and my family about the transplant process? Can I tour the transplant center? What other options do I have besides transplantation? What are the risks of transplantation? What are the benefits of transplantation? What are the transplant success rates at this hospital? How many transplants do you perform at this hospital each year? How long has this hospital been doing transplants? What is involved in the evaluation and testing process? How do my test results affect whether or not I am put on the list? How long is the local waiting list? How do you decide whether you will accept an organ offered to me? Who are the members of the transplant team and what are their jobs? How many attending surgeons are available to do my type of transplant? Do I need to stay close to the transplant hospital while I am put on the waiting list? How soon must I be at the transplant hospital after being called? Is there a special nursing unit for transplant patients? Will the transplant center team advise my local health care providers of my care requirements? Will I be asked to take part in research studies? After the transplant What is the length of hospitalization after my transplant? Do I need to stay close to the hospital post-transplant? If so, for how long? What is the usual immunosuppressive treatment? What follow-up examinations and tests will I undergo? How frequently? Will I need to return to the transplant center if I have complications? What medications will I take after I leave the hospital and how much will they cost? Financial Questions How much will the transplant cost? How much will I have to pay? What part of the transplant cost is covered by my insurance? What if my insurance does not pay for medications? What financial coverage is accepted by this hospital? What happens if my financial coverage runs out? Questions about Living Donation Does the hospital do living donor transplants? What types of living donor transplants does the center do? Is a living donor transplant a choice in my case? If so, where can the living donor evaluation occur? What are the costs if I have a living donor? Reference and Publication Information United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients. The content on this page was originally created on July 15, 2003 by UNOS and last modified on November 30, 2011. The following sources were used as references: United Network for Organ Sharing. (2011). What Every Patient Needs to Know [Booklet]. Richmond, VA: United Network for Organ Sharing. This web site is intended solely for the purpose of electronically providing the public with general health-related information and convenient access to the data resources. UNOS is not affiliated with any one product nor does UNOS assume responsibility for any error, omissions or other discrepancies.		< You may also want to learn about: Additional financial-related questions Which hospital is best for you? People you should know Contacting your donor family The standard transplant evaluation usually includes the following tests: blood typing tissue typing dental exam chest x-ray cardiac work-up pulmonary work-up infectious disease testing gender-specific testing psychological evaluation to determine emotional preparedness evaluation of social and financial supports and ability to care for yourself and your new organ after transplant Other testing may be required depending on the organ you need and your health history