How common is a pancreas transplant?
In 2006, there were 24 single pancreas transplants in the UK and 136 combined kidney/pancreas transplants. The average waiting time for a pancreas is around one year. Tissue donation As well as organ donation, it is possible to donate tissue, which can improve the quality of life for many people. Unlike organs, tissue can be donated up to 48 hours after the heart has stopped beating. The most common tissues that can be donated included the cornea of the eye, bone, skin and heart valves. It is also possible to donate tendon and cartilage. These tissues are used to treat a wide variety of conditions, some of which may be life threatening. Up to 50 people can benefit from the donated tissue of one person. It is possible to retrieve tissue from a donor and store it over a period of time. This allows tissue to be screened for possible infectious agents and allows a pool of available tissue to be established. Corneas Corneas can be transplanted to restore the sight of a person who has an eye
