Transplantation
How Tissue & Cornea Transplants Work
Tissue, such as skin, musculoskeletal tissue and heart valves can be recovered from brain dead donors who can also donate solid organs.
If a donor is declared to have died because his or her heart stopped beating (not brain death), then the individual can only be a potential tissue and eye (cornea) donor.
Unlike the waiting list for organs, there is no formal database for those who need a tissue transplant.
But at a moment’s notice, tissue has to be made available.
For example, in the case of a burn victim, the availability of skin can mean the difference between survival and death. In these cases, authorization for donation is sought by phone by members of the Donor Network’s 24-hour Donor Center.
