Table 1.
Statistical data on organ transplantation in the US for 2012
| Recovered | Transplanted | Discarded | Loss rate, percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pancreas | 1,562 | 1,143 | 419 | 26.8 |
| Kidney | 14,784 | 12,140 | 2,644 | 17.9 |
| Liver | 6,685 | 6,030 | 655 | 9.8 |
| Intestines | 136 | 129 | 7 | 5.2 |
| Lungs | 3,302 | 3,163 | 139 | 4.2 |
| Heart | 2,382 | 2,365 | 17 | 0.7 |
| All organs | 28,851 | 24,970 | 3,881 | 13.5 |
Data show how yearly almost 4,000 organs, originally destined for transplant, are discarded for different reasons. These organs could represent a unique source for regenerative medicine and organ bioengineering research. Source: New York Times [107].