Organ Donation

Facts At-A-Glance

• A Liver Transplant is needed when the liver fails, usually because of long-term disease.
• About 17,000 Americans are on a waiting list for a liver transplant
• In 2005, there were about 6,500 liver transplants in the U.S.
• The number of liver transplantations has been steadily increading for more than 15 years.
• Cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C is the most common reason for liver transplantation.
• Donated livers can come from either deceased donors or living donors
• The five-year survival rate for liver transplant patients is over 70 percent.

For More Information Visit the website for The Center of Organ Recovery & Donation (CORE).

The Center for Organ Recovery & Education is the not-for-profit agency that manages the organ and tissue donor program for western PA, West Virginia and Chemung Co., New York. In partnership with 155 hospitals in our region, CORE serves as the link between those who donate and patients awaiting organs, tissue and corneas for transplantation.

In addition to offering families the oppurtunity to donate, CORE coordinates the surgical recovery efforts, computerized matching and placement of organs, tissue and corneas. Since 1977, CORE has coordinated more than 300,000 organ and tissue transplants for patients in the region.

Additional Resources

National Transplant Assistance Fund 1.800.642.8399

National Foundation for Transplants 1.800.489.3863

TRIO-Pittsburgh Chapter
www.trio-pittsburgh.org

Page updated: February 13th, 2009