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How Long After Death Can Organs Be Transplanted?
Question: how long after death can organs be transplanted? Do organs like the heart, kidney, always die immediately or can they sometimes be saved? Please give details on individual organs
Brief Answer:
Hi and welcome to HCm
Detailed Answer:
The heart must be donated by someone who is brain-dead but is still on life support while kidneys and liver can be donated by live poeple. Pancreas and lungs are rarely transplanted but it is possible too.
So when there is brain-dead (it means that person is dead and he cant become alive, only his heart and lungs are working because of mechanic support), his organs will stil be "usable" for some time.
Period in which organs should be translanted depends on several factors such as age, previous health and heart function support of death person. Perosn can be mantained on support for many days,even weeks. But when organs are removed, then it must be transplanted generally within 24 hours.
For liver, optimal period is within 12 hours after death. Kidneys can be donated as within 36 hours. Heart should be transplanted within 4 hours after the removal.
Organs can be alive only in human body which is supplied with oxygen so it cant be kept outside the body.
Hi and welcome to HCm
Detailed Answer:
The heart must be donated by someone who is brain-dead but is still on life support while kidneys and liver can be donated by live poeple. Pancreas and lungs are rarely transplanted but it is possible too.
So when there is brain-dead (it means that person is dead and he cant become alive, only his heart and lungs are working because of mechanic support), his organs will stil be "usable" for some time.
Period in which organs should be translanted depends on several factors such as age, previous health and heart function support of death person. Perosn can be mantained on support for many days,even weeks. But when organs are removed, then it must be transplanted generally within 24 hours.
For liver, optimal period is within 12 hours after death. Kidneys can be donated as within 36 hours. Heart should be transplanted within 4 hours after the removal.
Organs can be alive only in human body which is supplied with oxygen so it cant be kept outside the body.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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