2020 was a record year for solid organ transplants, even amid COVID-19 pandemic

2020 was a record year for solid organ transplants, even amid COVID-19 pandemic
Apr. 1, 2021

2020 was a record year for solid organ transplants, according to the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center. Despite the COVID-19pandemic the center performed the most solid organ transplants across its three campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, than any time in history.

"All donors are tested for COVID-19," says Dr. David Douglas, chair of the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center. "Anyone who had active COVID-19 would not be used as a donor. In fact, it's important to make that point because there have been no recorded cases of COVID being transmitted from the donor to a recipient from transplantation." 

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Douglas explains how the increase of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed care before and after transplants, and he addresses misconceptions about organ donation. He also talks about technologies in transplantation that are on the horizon.