Facts about Heart Transplantation

Fast Facts

• 103,000+ people are waiting for a life-saving transplant in the United States.

• 27,974 transplants were performed in 2008.

• 2,800+ people are waiting for a heart transplant nationwide

• ~2000 heart transplants were performed in 2008.

• 1 person is added to the waiting list every 11 minutes.

• 18 people die every day from not receiving a transplant in time.

Waiting Times

Waiting times can vary from weeks to multiple years. Each patient's situation is different, but the critical shortage of organs is the main reason for lengthy waits. Some patients are more ill than others when they are put on the transplant waiting list. Some patients get sick more quickly than other patients, or respond differently to treatments. Patients may have medical conditions that make it harder to find a good match for them.*

*Source: Organ Procurement and Transplant Network http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/

Sign up to be an Organ & Tissue Donor

Upon your death, you could be in a position to save and enhance up to 60 other lives by becoming an organ and tissue donor. To find out the best way to register in your state, please visit www.DonateLife.net.