Prague, Jan 18 (CTK) – The number of human transplant surgeries has increased by almost one third in the Czech Republic in the past ten years, with a total of 843 organs being transplanted last year, the second highest number after 2014, according to preliminary data released by the Transplant Coordination Centre.
Last year, the most often transplanted organs were kidneys, liver and heart.
More than 60 percent of all surgeries were performed in the Prague-seated Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM).
At the end of 2017, 1,171 patients were waiting for a new organ, two more than a year ago.
A total of 562 people were waiting for a new kidney, 103 for a heart, 62 for a liver, 58 for lungs and 30 for pancreas.
The list of the patients also included a woman who needs a new womb, and six people waiting for the pancreatic islets.
Last year, the most frequently transplanted organ was kidney. New kidneys went to 469 patients, including 51 from living donors.
A total of 205 liver transplant surgeries were performed, 26 more than in 2016.
In IKEM, where three quarters of all liver transplant surgeries took place, the doctors also planted a donor’s liver in a four-month baby, reportedly the youngest patient to have ever undergone this operation in Europe.
In IKEM, the doctors not only give a whole new liver to recipients but also plant parts of liver in several recipients or take a part of liver from living donors.
Last year, a total of 74 hearts, 44 lungs, 39 pancreases and five pancreatic islet sets were transplanted in the Czech Republic.
One patient received a new small intestine and six women new wombs, including four from living donors.
The number of transplant surgeries is limited by a shortage of donors.
There were 324 donors last year, including 269 dead ones, most frequently people with irreversibly damaged brain.
According to experts, one donor can save up to ten patients.
The relevant Czech law requires the dead donors’ previous consent to their organ donation.
A dead person’s family can express their disagreement with a donation, which ten families did last year.
Doctors say the communication with the survivors is the most difficult phase of a transplant process.
Number of transplant surgeries in past ten years:
Year Kidney Heart Liver Lungs Pancreas Pancreatic islets Small intestine Womb Total
2017 469 74 205 44 39 5 1 6 843
2016 458 78 179 42 41 3 3 4 808
2015 453 75 188 34 37 5 1 0 793
2014 507 87 169 32 40 9 2 0 846
2013 460 68 119 17 35 5 0 0 704
2012 432 73 114 20 26 9 0 0 674
2011 360 68 89 18 32 14 0 0 581
2010 364 70 102 17 20 13 0 0 586
2009 373 80 102 22 28 7 0 0 612
2008 357 59 97 20 26 7 0 0 566
2007 416 69 115 12 27 6 0 0 645
Source: Transplant Coordination Centre
