What is Tissue Donation And Who Benefits?

One tissue donor can help 50 or more people. Upon notification of a death, CNYETB determines donor suitability and presents the option of donation to the family. Virtually anyone, regardless of age or medical history, can be a potential donor. With permission, tissues that are donated, but which are NOT suitable for transplant, can be utilized for valuable research purposes. This can help in the study of cancer, asthma, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and many other conditions. Among those helped by tissue donation are people with congenital deformities, bone cancer, severe burns or athletic injuries.

Tissue donation can include:

Bone, Skin, Heart Valves, Pericardium, Veins, Arteries, and Connective Tissue.

Bone can be used fresh, freeze-dried, or frozen. Bone can be used in many forms, for example it may be used whole, crushed, or shaped into pins, wedges, screws, and dowels which can be used for repair and reconstruction. Human bone promotes healing and mobility.

Skin can be used as a temporary biological bandage for burn victims, and in reconstructive surgery.

Heart valves are used to replace defective valves often of pediatric patients or in women of child-bearing years.

Veins may be utilized in cardiac bypass surgeries (rather than creating a secondary surgical site to retrieve a vein) or in limb salvage to avoid amputation.

Connective tissues can be used in urological surgeries and to replace torn ligaments or tendons to allow the patient mobility, independence, and to relieve pain.

Pericardium is used in neurosurgery as a protective covering replacement of the brain.

Tissue is processed after donation to remove contaminants such as blood, bacteria, viruses, and spores.