Our Summary

This research paper is about how willing people waiting for a kidney transplant are to accept an “intervention organ,” or an organ that has been a part of some medical research. The researchers presented 249 people waiting for a kidney transplant with 12 different scenarios that involved factors like the age of the organ donor, how long they might have to wait for another organ offer, and the risk to the organ from the research.

The results showed that most people (96%) were willing to accept an intervention organ under some or all conditions. The things that made people more likely to accept an intervention organ were: if there was a low risk to the kidney from the research, if the organ donor was younger, if they would have to wait a long time for another organ offer, and if they had a lot of trust in their transplant doctor.

On the other hand, people were less likely to accept an intervention organ if they had been waiting for a long time already or if they were Black. The authors conclude that these results should encourage those in charge of organ transplants to conduct more trials with intervention organs.

FAQs

  1. What is an “intervention organ” as mentioned in the research paper?
  2. What factors make people more likely to accept an intervention organ?
  3. Why were people less likely to accept an intervention organ if they had been waiting for a long time or if they were Black?

Doctor’s Tip

A doctor might advise a patient awaiting an organ transplant to consider all factors involved in accepting an intervention organ, such as the potential risks and benefits, the age of the organ donor, and their own personal circumstances. It is important to trust your healthcare team and have open communication with them about your preferences and concerns regarding the transplant process. Ultimately, the decision to accept an intervention organ is a personal one and should be made based on what is best for your individual health and well-being.

Suitable For

Patients who are typically recommended for organ transplant are those who have end-stage organ failure, such as kidney, liver, heart, or lung failure, and have exhausted all other treatment options. These patients must be in relatively good health aside from their organ failure in order to withstand the surgery and recovery process.

Additionally, patients must be deemed suitable candidates for transplant based on factors such as age, overall health, and ability to comply with post-transplant care and medication regimens. Patients with a strong support system and a willingness to make necessary lifestyle changes are also typically recommended for organ transplant.

It is important for patients to undergo a thorough evaluation by a transplant team to determine their eligibility for transplant and to assess their overall health and readiness for the procedure. Transplant teams consider a variety of factors when recommending patients for organ transplant, including the severity of the patient’s condition, their ability to tolerate surgery and recovery, and their likelihood of benefiting from the transplant.

Ultimately, the decision to recommend a patient for organ transplant is made on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the individual patient’s unique circumstances and medical history.

Timeline

Before organ transplant:

  1. Patient is diagnosed with end-stage organ failure and is referred to a transplant center.
  2. Patient undergoes extensive medical evaluations to determine eligibility for transplant.
  3. Patient is placed on the transplant waiting list and waits for a suitable donor organ to become available.
  4. Patient may undergo dialysis or other treatments to manage their condition while waiting for a transplant.

After organ transplant:

  1. Patient receives a call that a suitable donor organ is available and undergoes the transplant surgery.
  2. Patient spends time recovering in the hospital and may experience complications or rejection of the new organ.
  3. Patient must take immunosuppressant medications for the rest of their life to prevent rejection of the new organ.
  4. Patient undergoes regular follow-up appointments and medical tests to monitor the health of the transplanted organ.
  5. Patient must make lifestyle changes to support the health of the transplanted organ, such as maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding certain activities or substances.
  6. Patient may experience improvements in their overall health and quality of life as a result of the successful transplant.

What to Ask Your Doctor

  1. What is an intervention organ and how does it differ from a traditional organ transplant?
  2. What are the potential risks and benefits of accepting an intervention organ?
  3. How is the quality and success rate of an intervention organ compared to a traditional organ?
  4. How is the organ donor for an intervention organ selected and what criteria are used?
  5. How long would I have to wait for another organ offer if I choose to decline an intervention organ?
  6. What specific medical research has been conducted on the intervention organ and how might it impact my health?
  7. What are the potential long-term consequences of accepting an intervention organ?
  8. How much trust should I have in my transplant doctor when considering accepting an intervention organ?
  9. How does being on the waiting list for a long time or being a certain race (such as Black) affect my likelihood of accepting an intervention organ?
  10. Are there any alternative options or treatments I should consider before accepting an intervention organ?

Reference

Authors: Gordon EJ, Abt P, Lee J, Knopf E, Phillips C, Bermudez F, Krishnamurthi L, Karaca HS, Veatch R, Knight R, Conway PT, Dunn S, Reese PP. Journal: Clin Transplant. 2021 Jun;35(6):e14316. doi: 10.1111/ctr.14316. Epub 2021 May 2. PMID: 33844367