| Allocation: |
The system of ensuring that organs and tissues are distributed fairly to patients who are in need. |
| Allograft: |
Organ or tissue transplants between individuals of the same species. |
| Bone Marrow Transplant: |
Bone marrow is removed from a healthy individual and given to a patient in
need of it. The most common reasons for a bone marrow transplant are leukemia
and aplastic anemia. |
| Brain Death: |
Total irreversible cessation of all brain functions, including the brain stem,
demonstrated by: lack of responsiveness to stimuli, absence of all reflexes, and
an absence of spontaneous breathing. An EEG or other tests may be used by the
physician to establish brain death. |
| Brain Stem: |
Area of the brain that controls heartbeat and respiration. |
| Cornea: |
The transparent outer coating of the eye that covers the iris and pupil. Corneas can be donated and transplanted. |
| Deceased Donors: |
Non-living donors are those whose organs or tissues are donated after they have been declared dead. |
| Dialysis: |
Process of removing toxins, or waste product of metabolism, and fluid from the blood. Normally the kidneys perform this function, but if they are damaged by disease or trauma, dialysis must be used. |
| Donor Card: |
Legal document used by a person who wishes to make an anatomical gift after
death. Donor cards can be obtained by contacting the Wisconsin
Donor Network |
| DOT: |
Division of Organ Transplantation. Federal office that is part of the Health
Resources and Services Administration. |
| Extra-renal Organ: |
Any organ other than the kidney. |
| Eye Bank: |
A not-for-profit organization that provides tissue for corneal transplantation, research and education. Donated eyes are retrieved, evaluated and distributed by an eye bank. |
| Fascia: |
A fibrous membrane that covers and supports the muscles. |
| Graft: |
Tissue or organ that is transplanted or implanted into the body to repair
a defect or replace a permanently damaged organ or tissue. |
| Heart-lung machine: |
Device that pumps blood and oxygenates it while the heart and/or lungs are not functioning such as during heart surgery. |
| Immune response: |
The body's defense against foreign substances that could be harmful - such as bacteria or foreign tissue. |
| Immunosuppression: |
The artificial suppression of the immune response – usually through drugs – so that the body will not reject a transplanted organ or tissue. Drugs are commonly used to suppress the immune system after transplantation includes: Prednisone, Imuran and Cyclosporine. |
| Living related donor (LDR): |
An organ or tissue donor who is in good health, who matches the recipient with regard to his/her immune system, and who donates an organ (kidney) or tissue (blood, bone marrow) to a relative or friend. |
| National Organ Transplant Act: |
Signed into law on Oct. 19, 1984, this law (P.L. 98-507) established the
Task Force on Organ Transplantation and the National Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. The act also authorized financial assistance for organ procurement organization, prohibited the sale of organs, and called for the establishment of a bone marrow registry of donors. |
| Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 1987 (OBRA): |
Required the establishment of hospital protocols for organ donation and standards for organ procurement organizations. Also, the Act provided one-year coverage of immunosuppressive therapy post-transplant. |
| Organ Donor: |
The donor who meets brain death criteria and has a heartbeat. This type of
donor is maintained on a ventilator until the organs are removed in surgery. Tissue
donation can follow the removal of organs. |
Organ Procurement &
Transplantation Network
(OPTN) |
Federally mandated national system that establishes policies and procedures
for organ sharing, membership criteria, and data collection. Also provides professional education. Operated by UNOS. |
| Organ Procurement Organization (OPO): |
An organization responsible for donor identification and care; organ removal, preservation, and transportation of organs. OPOs employ transplant coordinators who work with donor families and provide educational programs to hospitals. OPOs were designated by the U.S. government in 1987 to provide services to assigned counties and the hospitals within them. |
| Preservation of Organs: |
The technique used to keep organs or tissue viable once they are removed from the donor. Preservation fluids and reduced temperatures assist in preserving the organs. Organs have a limited preservation time. |
| Rejection: |
The immune process of ridding the body of foreign tissue by production of
antibodies and local systematic inflammation. |
| Routine (Required) Request: |
Legislation requiring hospitals to have, in writing and in practice, protocols for providing the organ/tissue donation option to families of potential donors. |
| Task force on OrganTransplantation: |
Created by the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984, this group examined
the status of transplantation in the U.S. and issued its report to Congress in
April 1986. |
| Tissue Bank: |
An organization responsible for tissue donor identification and tissue recovery. Tissue banks employ recovery coordinators who work with donor families and provide educational programs to hospitals. Tissue banks have NOT been designated by the U.S. Government and can provide services for any hospital. |
| Tissue Donor: |
The asystolic donor. Tissue recovery may take place after organ recovery or
an autopsy. Tissues include bone and related soft tissue, saphenous veins, heart
valves, skin and corneas. |
| Tissue Typing: |
The process of characterizing the human lymphocyte antigens in an individual. Tissue typing is done for all donors and recipients. |
| United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS): |
Non-profit organization that operates the National Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network in the U.S. All transplant centers, OPOs, and tissue typing laboratories are required to be members of the United Network for Organ Sharing. UNOS members set policy for transplantation in the U.S. and conduct professional education programs for transplant personnel. |
| Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA): |
Legislation passed in all 50 states that provides for the voluntary donation
of tissues and organs by individuals for transplantation. It also prohibits the
sale of organs and tissues for profit. |
| Ventilator: |
Machine that supplies oxygen to a patient who is unable to breathe unassisted. |
| Xenograft: |
Organ or tissue grafts between different species. |
