A major emphasis by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons is to increase organ donation in order to save the lives of patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. Currently, an estimated 15% of patients die while on the waiting list in the United States because there are insufficient organs to meet this lifesaving demand.
Decreasing the waiting list mortality requires more organs being procured from both deceased and living donors, which in turn requires innovation and organ preservation research. In San Antonio, Texas, transplant surgeons at the Long School of Medicine of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio innovated an effective approach to maximize the altruistic desire and contributions of living liver donors.