Indiana hits new record for organ donation
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The Indiana Donor Network announced Monday that the state successfully transplanted 1,134 donated organs in 2023, marking a new record and a 17% increase over the previous year.
The state’s federally designated organ recovery organization said the donations saved 989 lives.
Indiana has seen increases in organ transplants every year since 2016, when 606 organs were transplanted. However, the network said more than 1,300 Hoosiers are still waiting for an organ tranplant.
“The selflessness and generosity of organ and tissue donors and their families gives patients in need of a transplant a second chance at life,” CEO Kellie Tremain said in a news release. “This is our eighth consecutive year of executing high performance and unwavering commitment to donors and transplant recipients. We are dedicated to saving lives through carefully caring for our donors’ gifts and honoring their decisions by ensuring the needs of patients awaiting transplant are met.”
The Indiana Donor Network said new technologies are key contributors to the higher number of transplants last year, such as kidney perfusion transporters, which keep donated kidneys functioning outside the body and allow professionals to monitor the organ’s temperature and vascular performance and increase the chances of a successful transplant.
The network said it began using such transporters for donated livers last year as part of an FDA-authorized study along with four Midwest transplant centers.
“We as an organization emphasize innovation and implementing new technology to ensure that more donated organs are available for those in need of lifesaving transplants,” Tremain said. “Organ perfusion technology has helped us significantly expand our donor base and coordinate more transplants for more patients.”
The organization saw a record increase in heart valve donations (28%) and bone and connective tissues (34%) last year. Tremain said with the latter, the organization has maintained a 0.16% recovery error rate for tissue donations, which she described as “no small feat”
Additionally, the Indiana Donor Network added 107 employees to its staff, bringing the organization’s total headcount to 327.