Transplantation in Poland: the time has come for reconstruction and development

In 2022, 1,402 organs from deceased donors were transplanted in Poland (over 120 more than a year earlier). Last year, however, there was a dramatic increase in these procedures — 1,805 internal organs were transplanted, such as kidneys, heart, liver, pancreas and lungs – according to “Poltransplant”.

Recent years in Polish transplantology have been a period of stagnation. Temporary increases were replaced by subsequent decreases in the number of transplants performed. However, the biggest disruption was brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, only 1,180 transplants were performed, and in 2021 — 1274. However, the sudden increase in transplants in 2023 indicates that Polish transplantology is starting to rebuild. Still, doctors still have something to work on.

Time to rebuild

Polish transplantology is heading in the right direction, especially when it comes to transplants from deceased donors. In 2023, 573 so-called deceased actual donors, i.e. those from whom the collected organs were suitable for transplantation. The total number of donors was up to 764. In 2022, there were 445 actual donors and 640 total donors.

Obtaining deceased donors is crucial to increasing the number of transplants. Last year, as in previous years, the most frequently transplanted organs included kidneys (977), livers (523), hearts (178) and lungs (98). Four pancreases were also transplanted (very rare and difficult operations) and 24 kidneys and pancreas.

The problem with transplants from living donors

However, the Achilles heel of Polish transplantology are transplants from living donors, which are performed in a negligible number compared to organ transplants obtained from deceased donors. For many years, they have accounted for just over 5%. all transplants.

In 2023, 78 kidney transplants and 27 liver fragments obtained from living donors were performed. In 2022, 73 and 28 such procedures took place, respectively. This is slightly more than in 2012, when 51 kidneys and 14 liver fragments were transplanted from living donors.

Transplants from living donors are most often family transplants. Organs for such operations are usually obtained from immediate family members, although unrelated donors, e.g. spouses, are allowed.

Organs transplanted from a living donor usually last longer in the recipient’s body than those taken from deceased people. Kidneys last on average for 15 years, which is 5 years longer compared to transplants from a deceased donor. This is due to the fact that they can generally be used in a better condition, if only because they are ischemic for a shorter period of time. — just one hour, not about 30 hours as in the case of an organ obtained from a deceased person.