Organ donation: Did you know?
1. An Organ Donation Coordinator (ODC) carries a consent letter along with leaflets on grief counselling, support, and funeral arrangements. But what else can be in an ODC's briefcase?
Blood collection tubes
When the family of the patient confirms the agreement to organ donation, an ODC collects blood from the patient for blood matching to confirm whether it matches a potential organ recipient or not. It could also reduce the risk of transplant rejection.
A beanie
Some patients have their hair shaved when they undergo craniectomy procedures after they suffer a stroke. After they pass away, beanies cover their shaved heads when their loved ones say goodbye. The beanies are made and donated by heart transplant recipients to express gratitude.
2. Does the removal of organs affect the appearance of the donor's body? Can a body be used for transplants and be donated for medical research afterwards?
Thorax, ribs, and other bones provide structural support, and any incisions are surgically stitched so that the body is unchanged in appearance after organ donation. The body can therefore still be donated for medical education and research.
3. Movies or dramas describe transplant patients developing similar habits and tastes to organ donors. Does this happen in real life?
Some recipients do experience changes in habits and tastes after a transplant–a sweet tooth all of a sudden, for instance. There is no scientific evidence for organ memory so far, but recipients do need to take steroids to avoid organ rejection after a transplant. This can lead to an increased appetite which may account for an unexpected change in eating habits.
4. Why do some patients in movies and dramas see ghost images after corneal transplants?
It may due to distorted or blurred vision called astigmatism. It does sometimes occur after penetrating keratoplasty. This is due to the sutures used in surgery which cause the refractive error. It can be improved by adjusting or removing the sutures.
Blood collection tubes
When the family of the patient confirms the agreement to organ donation, an ODC collects blood from the patient for blood matching to confirm whether it matches a potential organ recipient or not. It could also reduce the risk of transplant rejection.
A beanie
Some patients have their hair shaved when they undergo craniectomy procedures after they suffer a stroke. After they pass away, beanies cover their shaved heads when their loved ones say goodbye. The beanies are made and donated by heart transplant recipients to express gratitude.
2. Does the removal of organs affect the appearance of the donor's body? Can a body be used for transplants and be donated for medical research afterwards?
Thorax, ribs, and other bones provide structural support, and any incisions are surgically stitched so that the body is unchanged in appearance after organ donation. The body can therefore still be donated for medical education and research.
3. Movies or dramas describe transplant patients developing similar habits and tastes to organ donors. Does this happen in real life?
Some recipients do experience changes in habits and tastes after a transplant–a sweet tooth all of a sudden, for instance. There is no scientific evidence for organ memory so far, but recipients do need to take steroids to avoid organ rejection after a transplant. This can lead to an increased appetite which may account for an unexpected change in eating habits.
4. Why do some patients in movies and dramas see ghost images after corneal transplants?
It may due to distorted or blurred vision called astigmatism. It does sometimes occur after penetrating keratoplasty. This is due to the sutures used in surgery which cause the refractive error. It can be improved by adjusting or removing the sutures.