The Current Status of Organ Donation and Transplantation in Poland. Poltransplant Activity

Abstract

Background: This article summarizes comprehensive information about the current status of organ donation and transplantation in Poland.

Material and methods: Reported statistical data of solid organs and vascularized composite allograft donation and transplantation from both deceased and living donors in Poland in 2015-2020 (presented in tables according to selected variables) are based on the national transplant registries, gathering information on donation and transplantation activity in medical centers involved in donation and transplantation programs in Poland.

Results: In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, 529 potential deceased donors were referred to the Polish Transplant Coordinating Centre Poltransplant; 1310 solid organs from 393 actual deceased donors (10.2 per million population) were procured, mostly kidneys (758), livers (285), and hearts (157). Eighty percent were multiorgan retrievals (314). In 2020, 1231 organs procured from deceased donors and 59 organs from living donors were transplanted to 1236 recipients.

Conclusion: This overview indicates that donation and transplantation activity from deceased donors in Poland decreased about 20% in 2020 compared with 2019, which is comparable with worldwide rates. As the unprecedented pandemic situation affected donation and transplantation procedures, there are measures that must to be taken to return to prepandemic donation and transplantation rates in both deceased and living transplant programs and then continue to improve in the years to come.