Is there a difference between tissue and organ donation?
In general, organ donors must be brain dead, which is defined as the irreversible cessation of all brain function. In these very limited cases (approximately 20,000 per year), organ donation occurs when mechanical support (i.e., ventilators) can continue the viability of the organs for a short period of time after the death of the patient. Organs (heart, liver, kidney, etc.) must be carefully matched to waiting recipients. Matching is done according to factors such as blood type, medical status of the recipient and size of the waiting recipient. Tissue donation may occur from patients who are either brain dead or who have suffered cardiac death, the cessation of the heart. Consequently, there are many more potential tissue donors than organ donors. Tissue recipients do not have to be matched to their donors as rejection is not generally a concern.
