Until the early 1980s, the number of transplants per year was still very low. However, the success of transplanting organs outside the kidneys, such as the heart, liver and pancreas, and the emergence of anti-rejection drugs, has led to an increase in the number of transplants, according to the United Nations Children's Service.
Since then, porting has become a more common program.
More than 500,000 transplants have been carried out since 2007, with more than 41,000 transplants in 2021, the highest ever recorded, twice as much as 25 years ago.
Although there are more patients undergoing transplants than ever before, this does not mean that the institution has no drawbacks.
About 5,000 people die on the waiting list of transplants each year. A study published today in the Journal of the American Kidney Society found that many donated kidneys in the United States were unnecessarily discarded.
But organ donors and recipients hope that by sharing their stories, they will inspire people to sign up for donations and help reduce those long waiting lists.
