in focus
For the first time ever, more than 10,000 liver transplants were performed in a year.
In 2023, the U.S. organ donation and transplant community continued a record-breaking trend that started eleven years ago. 10,660 liver transplants were performed last year, more than ever recorded in a single year, and more than 10,000 for the first time ever.
Eleven years of all-time high numbers of liver transplants wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of organ donors and their families, and the hard work of the countless members of the Organ Donation and Transplantation Network (OPTN). This historic streak also comes in the wake of the OPTN’s work to enact policies such as changes to MELD and PELD calculations to ensure that more people have access to lifesaving transplants.
More changes to liver allocation are coming soon. The Offer Filters tool is being developed for liver allocation in 2024, and the OPTN liver committee is continuing to develop a policy based on continuous distribution. Read more about continuous distribution here.
How do we track policy success?
We look at the data.
Liver transplants* increased by 4.3 percent since policy implementation.
In focus
Research in focus: examining organ offers
Three recent studies from UNOS researchers examine offer acceptance practices and impact of Offer Filters tool.
7,000 organs tracked with UNOS Organ Tracking Service
30% of all OPOs use the UNOS Organ Tracking Service to monitor organs in transit.
Over 5,000 organs tracked with UNOS Organ Tracking Service
26% of all OPOs are now utilizing the UNOS Organ Tracking Service to monitor organs in transit.
Four decades of lifesaving work: the Organ Center turns 40
The F.M. Kirby Foundation Organ Center is celebrating its 40th year of continuous operation without any service interruptions
