Organ transplants

9-minute read

Key facts

An organ transplant involves removing an organ from a donor and placing it into someone living with organ failure.
Organs that can be transplanted include the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, intestines, bone marrow and several tissues.
You can donate your organs after you pass away or donate some types of organs while you are alive.
After a transplant, you will need to take lifelong medicines and have regular check-ups to prevent your body rejecting the new organ.
Anti-rejection medicines (immunosuppressants) increase your risk of infections and certain cancers.

What is an organ transplant?

An organ transplant is a surgical procedure where an organ is removed from one person and placed into another whose organ is failing. This person may be very ill or dying. An organ transplant can improve or save your life.

The person who gives the organ is called the donor. The person who receives the organ is called the recipient.

Which organs and tissues can be transplanted?

Organs that can be transplanted in Australia include:

You can also have tissue transplants, such as:

tendons
ligaments
skin
bone marrow
parts of your eye
reproductive tissues

Organs that can be transplanted, including heart, pancreas, kidney, skin, bone, liver and lungs. — Illustration of organs that can be transplanted, including the heart, pancreas, kidney, skin, bone, liver and lungs.

Who can donate organs and tissue?

In Australia, anyone aged 16 years or older can register on the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR). This allows them to donate their organs after they pass away (called a deceased donor). A child's organs can also be donated after they die. This decision is made by their family.

You can also donate some organs when you are alive (called a living donor). If you are healthy, you can donate a kidney, part of your liver, bone or bone marrow. A living donor is usually a relative or close friend of the person who needs the transplant. You can also donate a kidney or tissue to someone you do not know.

If you choose to become an organ donor, talk to your family about your decision. If you pass away, your family will be asked to agree to your donation. To donate organs, a person must pass away in hospital with healthy organs.

What are the benefits of an organ transplant?

You may need an organ transplant if one of your organs stops working properly. For example, you might need a:

heart transplant if you have heart failure
lung transplant if you have cystic fibrosis or emphysema
kidney transplant if you have kidney failure
liver transplant if you have liver failure
pancreas transplant if you have diabetes

Your doctor will only consider an organ transplant if other treatments haven't worked and they think it will help you. This is because there are not enough organs available for transplant. Receiving an organ transplant comes with risks and can affect your health for life.

Tissue transplants

A tissue transplant can improve your quality of life, for example:

a corneal transplant might help you see if you are losing your sight
a bone or tendon transplant can help repair an injury
a skin transplant may repair severe burns to a sensitive area of skin

Bone marrow transplants

Bone marrow has stem cells that make blood cells. If you have a blood cancer, such as leukaemia, a bone marrow transplant can help your body make healthy blood cells.

What does an organ transplant involve?

If you are eligible for an organ transplant and agree to it, you will be placed on a transplant waiting list. A team of healthcare professionals will take care of you. They will monitor your health and prepare you for surgery.

Having an organ transplant involves many steps before and after surgery. After the transplant, you will need to commit to lifelong treatment to keep your new organ healthy. This includes:

taking medicines
having regular medical tests and check-ups, such as blood tests
going to regular doctor's appointments to check your health

Each organ and tissue transplant requires a different type of surgery. After surgery, you will stay in hospital to recover until you are well enough to go home.

How can I prepare myself for an organ transplant?

While you wait for your organ or tissue transplant, you can prepare both physically and mentally.

Physical preparation (prehabilitation)

Improving your health before surgery can help with recovery. This is called prehabilitation. Your healthcare team may suggest you make some changes to your lifestyle, such as:

doing physical activity
eating a healthy diet
quitting alcohol and smoking

Emotional preparation

It is normal to feel anxious about your surgery and how it may affect your life. You may find it helpful to talk to your doctor, counsellor or someone close to you.

Questions to ask your healthcare team

You may have many questions about your medical condition and transplant. You may want to ask your healthcare team the following questions.

How long will I wait for a transplant?
Are there other treatment options?
What happens during and after the procedure?
How much will it cost?
What treatment will I need after the transplant?
How long will the organ last and what is my life expectancy with a transplant?

Preparing for your transplant can improve your recovery and help you have a better quality of life.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

How soon will I recover?

After surgery, you will stay in hospital to recover. How long you stay depends on your health, the type of surgery and how well you heal.

Before you go home, your doctors will explain what ongoing treatment you need and what signs of complications to look for.

Once you are home, you will have regular check-ups to make sure your transplanted organ is working well.

What complications can happen?

If you have an organ transplant, you may be at risk of certain complications, including:

surgery-related complications, such as bleeding, lung collapse or heart problems
rejection of the donor organ
infections
certain types of cancer

Each type of organ or tissue transplant may have different risks.

Organ transplant rejection

Having an organ transplant means there is something new in your body. Your immune system may see your new organ as foreign and try to attack it. This is called rejection and can be life-threatening.

To prevent rejection, you will need to:

take anti-rejection medicine (also called immunosuppressants)
have regular medical appointments and tests
ask your doctor what signs to look out for (rejection does not always cause symptoms)

Anti-rejection medicine can have side effects, including a higher risk of infections and some cancers. Your healthcare team will help balance these risks. Despite the risks, it's important to take your medicines as advised by your doctor and never miss a dose.

It's important to avoid getting infections. Infections can be dangerous for you because anti-rejection medicines weaken your immune system.

Find out more about organ rejection.

Are there alternatives to an organ transplant?

Depending on which organ you need, some other treatment options may be available. Doctors usually consider a transplant only when other treatments haven't worked.

It is important to talk to your doctor about your options.

What will happen if I decide not to have an organ transplant or it is delayed?

If you choose not to have an organ transplant, your doctors may offer treatments to manage your symptoms.

Depending on your situation, you may be offered palliative care. This can help manage symptoms and improve your quality of life, whether you are waiting for a transplant or choosing not to have one. It also offers support for people living with severe organ failure or other chronic illnesses.

Your doctors will explain the risks of choosing not to have a transplant, so you can make an informed decision. This is called informed consent. You also have the right to ask for a second opinion if you are unsure about what to do.

If your surgery is delayed, your doctor will monitor your health and do their best to support you during the wait.

Resources and support

DonateLife offers information about organ and tissue donation, including how to register as a donor.
Transplant Australia supports transplant recipients, their families, people on waiting lists, donor families and living donors.
Learn more about kidney transplants at Kidney Health Australia.
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne offers a fact sheet about organ donation for parents, families and carers.

You can also call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 at any time to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) for more information and advice.