Organ Transplant Process

An organ transplant is the process of removing an organ or tissue from one person and placing it into another person, which may be necessary due to organ failure or damage from disease or injury. Our transplant team at the SSM Health Transplant Center at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, including specially trained nurses, patient care coordinators and SLUCare Physician Group specialists, provide medical care for patients with end-stage organ failure requiring liver, kidney, kidney-pancreas, and/or isolated pancreas transplantation.

How do I get a transplant?

If you need an organ transplant, the first step is to get on the national transplant waiting list. Your physician will refer you for an evaluation by the SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital transplant team. If the transplant team determines that you are a good transplant candidate, they will add you to the national waiting list.

When an organ becomes available, your local organ procurement organization will send medical and genetic information to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). UNOS determines potential recipients based on factors such as:

• Blood type
• Tissue type
• Organ size
• Medical urgency of your illness
• Time already spent on the waiting list
• Distance between you and the donor

What happens after my transplant surgery?

After your surgery, your physicians will continue to check up on your health and the health of your transplanted organ. Talk to your transplant team about what ongoing monitoring will be needed, such as lab tests and follow-up appointments.

Rejection of an organ transplant can happen when your body sees the organ or tissue as a foreign invader and attempts to protect itself. Immunosuppressant medications that prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted organ can be essential after surgery. You may be more vulnerable to infections, especially for the first six months after surgery, but you can protect your health by following healthy habits to avoid illness and injury. If you do get sick, it is important to seek treatment sooner rather than later.

Choosing a healthy lifestyle is also important. Eating well, exercising regularly and avoiding smoking are all ways to promote the health of your new organ, as well as the rest of your body. Our transplant team will help customize a plan that best suits your needs.

How to get started with the transplant process:

Needing an organ transplant can be a frightening and often frustrating process, but our compassionate and skilled team is here to be with you every step of the way.

What is dual transplant listing?

When you or a loved one needs a transplant, the wait for a match can seem endless. The transplant teams at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital both allow dual listing to increase your chance for a match. Dual listing, sometimes called multiple listing, means that you are added to the waiting list at more than one transplant center.

We understand that this process can be overwhelming. That’s why our dedicated transplant teams are here to support you every step of the way. Please don’t hesitate to call us with any questions or concerns you have:

• If you have questions about adult transplant call us at: 314-257-8310
• If you have questions about pediatric transplant call us at: 314-577-5351

How are transplant canidates matched with donors?

If your doctor has recommended an organ transplant, you’ll be evaluated by a transplant center. Each transplant center can decide whether or not to accept a transplant candidate. Once you are accepted, the wait for a match begins.

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) oversees the use of donor organs and sets guidelines that determine whether a candidate is a match for a donor organ. Your priority is determined by:

• The urgency of your case
• How the donor matches your body size and blood and tissue type
• The sensitivity of your immune system
• How long you’ve been waiting
• The distance between the donor and the transplant hospital

What are the benefits of dual listing?

The distance between a potential donor and the transplant hospital is a key factor in determining whether an organ is a match for you. That’s because the chances of a successful transplant go down the longer an organ needs to be preserved outside of the donor’s body. Patients at transplant centers local to the donor are usually considered first. As a result, dual listing or multiple listing may increase your chances for a successful match and reduce the length of time you need to wait.

Because the OTPN considers all candidates in the local area when an organ becomes available, there is no benefit to dual listing at transplant centers in the same geographic area.

Things you should consider before singing up for dual listing:

While dual listing may increase your chance of a match, you should consider the following before deciding to list with more than one transplant center:

• Do all of the programs you’re considering allow dual listing? Some transplant programs do not accept dual listed patients.
• Can you comply with all of the program requirements? This may include getting to the transplant center within a certain time frame should an organ become available.
• Will your insurance cover the cost of any additional evaluations? Every hospital has different processes for adding patients to their waiting lists, and your insurance may not cover the required tests.
• How will you pay for the cost of travel and lodging if you are considering a hospital far from where you live?
• How will your follow-up care be managed if you choose a hospital far from home?

Dual listing can help you get the life-saving care you need as soon as possible. The transplant teams at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital can help you answer these questions, so you can decide if dual listing is right for you. We also offer several financial and housing resources to help make the process easier.

Please call our transplant teams if you have any questions about dual listing or to get started on the process: