Health Information

Transplantation

Organ transplants are a life-saving treatment for patients with organ failure involving the heart, liver, lung, kidney or pancreas. Tissue transplants are used to repair damage due to defects, burns or trauma.

The transplantation procedure involves the use of donor organs or tissue to replace or repair diseased or damaged organs and tissue. In some cases, part of an organ or tissue (i.e. liver, kidney or lung) can be transferred from a living donor to a recipient. All transplant operations are made possible through the generous act of organ and tissue donation.

Patients often wait several months for a transplant operation because there are more patients who need transplants than there are organ and tissue donors. In Canada, almost 4,000 patients are waiting for organ transplants and about 800 of these patients are in Toronto.

UHN Resources

UHN Brochures and Pamphlets

• Getting A New Kidney
• Living Donor Liver Transplant Program

UHN Clinics or Centres

• Transplant Clinic

Related Web Sites

• Toronto General Hospital – Multi Organ Transplant Program
  The “Public Information” section provides information for those believe transplant may be a treatment option for them. Letters from donor families and recipients highlight the meaning of organ donation and transplantation.
• London Health Sciences Centre – Multi-Organ Transplant Program
  This site provides transplant information including legal aspects and ethical issues.
• Canadian Association of Transplantation
  CAT is a national association whose members have built a caring and professional foundation for the transplantation process in Canada.
• American Society of Transplantation
  Provides online patient education brochures, in PDF format, which address what patients may expect before, during, and after transplants, including their medications. These brochures, available in English and Spanish, have been created for the purposes of informing transplant patients.  
• International Transplant Nurses Society
  Click to read the educational booklets and learn about transplanting kidney/pancreas and heart.

Support Groups

• Mentorship Program for Multi-Organ Transplant (MOT)
• Post-Transplant Spousal & Family Support Group
• Post-Transplant Support Group
• Pre-Transplant Support Group