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1. Both a living and deceased donor liver can be split into two parts and regrow.

Similar to a starfish, the liver can repair itself and grow back after tissue loss or damage. When a living donor donates half of their liver, it will regrow in their body to normal size and be fully functional in about six weeks. The half that the recipient receives will also grow to normal size and be fully functional in the same amount of time. A living donor can donate up to 66% of their liver.

Surgeons at »ªÌå»á successfully into two parts, transplanting one portion into the intended recipient and the other, smaller segment, into a patient with terminal colorectal cancer who could not find a suitable living donor. The smaller segment was allowed to grow inside of the patient for two weeks. After that time, surgeons went back in and removed the rest of the cancerous liver. 

2. On average, a transplanted liver lasts longer than any other donated organ.

The longer lifespan of a donated liver is due to this organ’s unique ability to regenerate. If a transplanted kidney gets damaged from an infection or a reaction to the antirejection medication, it can’t heal itself like the liver can.

“If you receive a kidney from a deceased donor, the lifespan of the transplanted kidney is about nine to 12 years,” says Dr. Simpson. “If you receive a kidney from a living donor, the average lifespan of the transplanted kidney is about 15 to 20 years, and sometimes longer.” She says that most people who receive a liver transplant are outlived by their liver.

3. If your body rejects an organ, the donated organ can’t be reused.

When your body rejects a transplanted organ, it means that your immune system recognized it as a foreign object and went into attack mode. This causes damage to the organ, which makes it no longer usable.

4. Inactive kidneys stay in your body.

After a donated kidney is transplanted, the surgeon will leave the nonfunctioning kidneys you were born with inside your body as long as they’re not causing health problems. The inactive kidneys will shrink over time.

Also interesting is that the transplanted kidney is placed in your lower abdomen, which is a different spot than where your native kidneys are located. Your native kidneys (the ones you were born with) are located higher up, under your rib cage. The reason a kidney is transplanted in a different spot is because it’s easier for surgeons to access and connect to your bladder and blood vessels.

5. A fecal (poop) transplant is a real procedure to save your colon.

If you have clostridioides difficile, or C. diff., which is a severe bacterial infection in the colon (also known as your large intestine), a fecal transplant can help clean out the bad bacteria. Fecal matter, or poop, is taken from a healthy person and transplanted into your colon. This “healthy” poop contains good bacteria, which flows through your colon to fight off harmful bacteria.

6. When solid organs like a liver, heart, lungs or kidneys are transplanted, no nerves are connected.

Here’s a surprise: Nerve regrowth naturally happens after a solid organ is transplanted into a living person. Surgeons do not have to connect them. This is different than a limb or face transplant, though, where nerve connection is vital for function.

7. Xenotransplantation may play a big role in helping with human organ shortages. 

Transplanting organs from animals, like , into humans is called xenotransplantation. In the United States, xenotransplantation is in the clinical trials and research phase. Pigs have been studied the most because their anatomy, metabolism and immune system are similar to humans. Scientists are now able to alter the genes of pigs to increase the success rate of an animal to human transplant. Even though there is a lot that is unknown about xenotransplantation, Dr. Simpson and Dr. Nadig are optimistic that this practice could help solve the human organ shortage.

8. Organs don't last forever, even when they're on ice or a pump machine.

Organs can last only so long without being in a warm environment and having oxygenated blood flowing through them. The amount of time that an organ can survive out of the body on ice or on a pump machine (technology that keeps organs alive outside of the body) varies by organ.  According to Dr. Simpson, kidneys can live outside of the body on ice for up to 36 hours, while hearts and lungs can only last about four to six hours on ice. A pump can extend these times. For example, a liver preserved on ice can last about six to 10 hours, whereas a liver on a pump can last 24 hours or even longer.

9. There is no scientific evidence that supports a link between organ transplants and personality changes.

There have been anecdotal reports of personality changes, including a shift in preferences, after a patient receives an organ donation. While there is currently no scientific evidence to support this claim, it’s possible that your personality may change from the overwhelming gratitude you have after receiving the .

10. Your blood type and immune system are key to organ matching.

There are two main factors that determine if you are a match for a donated organ: your blood type and your immune system.

• To be a match for blood type, you have to have an organ that either shares your same blood type or has the universal donor blood type, O. You have one of four different blood types: O, A, B or AB. AB is the “universal recipient,” which means that if you have type AB blood, you can receive an organ from all blood types. Also interesting: If you have the universal donor O blood type, you can only receive an organ from someone who also has the O blood type.
• Immune system matching is even more complex. Tests like and donor-recipient serum cross-matching are done to see how your immune system will react to a donated organ. Even after testing and transplantation, you may need to take anti-rejection medications.

Organ size, age (older or younger than 18), distance between donor and transplant hospital and how long you have been on an organ wait list are some other factors that go into organ matching.

Factors that are not considered in the United States:

• Ethnicity
• Sex
• Religion
• Citizenship
• Financial status
• Celebrity status

Learn how you can make a life-changing difference through living-donor organ transplantation.