Transplant Statistics: Annual Report

Technical Notes and Analytic Methods
Cadaveric Organ Recovery and Disposition

The cadaveric organ disposition tables show frequency counts and percentages for each disposition category (i.e., local or shared transplant, local or shared non-use, research, foreign exported, and unknown), for all cadaveric organs recovered by U.S. organ procurement organizations by organ type and year. In addition, tables are presented showing frequency counts for the reasons for non-use of recovered organs intended for transplant and non-recovery of consented organs. Table 1.2 shows the number of organs recovered from all cadaveric donors. Section 4 shows organ-specific recovery and disposition data.

• Table 4.1    Kidney Disposition
• Table 4.2    Kidney Disposition: Non-use
• Table 4.3    Kidney Disposition: Non-Recovery
• Table 4.4    Pancreas Disposition
• Table 4.5    Pancreas Disposition: Non-use
• Table 4.6    Pancreas Disposition: Non-Recovery
• Table 4.7    Liver Disposition
• Table 4.8    Liver Disposition: Non-use
• Table 4.9    Liver Disposition: Non-Recovery
• Table 4.10  Intestine Disposition
• Table 4.11  Intestine Disposition: Non-use
• Table 4.12  Intestine Disposition: Non-Recovery
• Table 4.13  Heart Disposition
• Table 4.14  Heart Disposition: Non-use
• Table 4.15  Heart Disposition: Non-Recovery
• Table 4.16  Lung Disposition
• Table 4.17  Lung Disposition: Non-use
• Table 4.18  Lung Disposition: Non-Recovery

Cadaveric Organ Disposition Data

When a donor donates either both kidneys or both lungs, each organ is counted separately. In cases where a liver or pancreas was split, both segments could have dispositions and each segment may be counted in these tables. Therefore, the number of organs shown here may be greater than the number of cadaveric organs recovered. Hearts recovered for heart valves and pancreata recovered for islet cells are not counted.

The year of reporting is based on the start of organ preservation, as recorded on the CDR Form. Data are subject to change based on future data submission or correction.

A locally transplanted organ is one that is transplanted within the immediate service area of the OPO that recovered the organ. A shared transplant involves an organ shipped to a transplant hospital outside the immediate service area of the OPO. Determination of local and shared organs is made by examining the relationship between the OPO at which an organ is procured and the center at which it is transplanted. Definitions of these service areas change over time. Any recovered organ intended for transplant that is neither transplanted nor used in research is referred to as not used.

Non-use of Recovered Organs and Non-recovery of Consented Organs

The reasons for non-use of recovered cadaveric organs intended for transplant and non-recovery of consented organs are shown for all cadaveric organs from donors who donated at least one solid organ. For example, consent is obtained for one donor to donate two kidneys, a liver, and a heart. The kidneys are recovered and used in a transplant. The liver is recovered, but the organ is damaged. The liver, therefore, is listed in the table on organs recovered but not transplanted. The heart, which also is consented for transplantation, is found to have poor organ function before it is recovered from the donor. The heart, therefore, is listed in the table on organs consented but not recovered. These tables do not include donors whose organs were consented but from whom no organs were ever recovered for transplant. For non-recovery of consented organs, when both kidneys or both lungs are not recovered, each organ is counted separately.

Reasons for non-use of recovered organs are shown only from 1994-2000 because these data were not available prior to 1994.