Organ donation

Careful selection of donor and recipient forms the foundation of a successful transplantation outcome. Accordingly, we provide intensive counselling and support in particular for the parents of a sick child.

If the parents finally decide in favour of heart transplantation, the child is ideally transferred directly to the transplant centre. Here we have the knowledge, skill and facilities for managing children medically and supporting them psychologically together with their families while waiting for a donor organ.

We then put the child on the Eurotransplant waiting list. The children’s blood group and weight are recorded here. The donor and recipient must have matching blood groups and weights. However, a newborn baby whose heart is already enlarged because of the disease can also be given a heart that is two to three times bigger than his own.

Suitable donor organs are not easy to find and this is no different for babies and children than for adults. Nevertheless, we use the greatest care in selecting potential organ donors. Organ donors with a history of malignant disease (apart from primary brain tumours), hepatitis or AIDS and active untreated bacterial, viral or fungal infections cannot be used.