File photo of Alberta Health Services sign. (Photo: Pattison Media, EverythingGP)

By Justin Goulet/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Record number of transplants performed in 2021 across southern Alberta

Apr 26, 2022 | 12:25 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A record number of organ transplants were done last year by the Southern Alberta Transplant Program. This is despite challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to data released by Alberta Health Services (AHS), 105 organs were transplanted in southern Alberta from 43 deceased donors and 25 living donors in 2021.

Donations included 103 kidneys and two pancreases. Last year’s total exceeded the previous record of 101 set in 2017. There were 97 transplants completed in 2020 and 80 in 2019 in southern Alberta.

The Southern Alberta Transplant Program focuses on kidney and pancreas transplants.

Dr. Andreas Kramer, medical director for the Southern Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Program said, “during every wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, AHS continues to provide organ and tissue donation and transplant service, with priority given to urgent cases.”

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Across all of Alberta, AHS transplant teams performed 404 organ and tissue transplants last year, compared to 395 in 2020 and 433 in 2019.

There were 312 people on the organ donation waitlist in 2021. 50 of those individuals passed away before a suitable organ became available.

AHS noted that the organ program does not track specific cause of death by disease, “so it is unknown to what degree COVID-19 and opioid deaths, or other factors, might contribute to an increased number of deceased organ donors.”

Dr. Kramer encourages Albertans to consider organ donation and to discuss it with their families.

He said, “many Albertans have expressed their intent to donate their organs and tissues at the end of their life, so signing the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry is a good first step.”

“But it is also very important to talk to your family to ensure they are aware of your desire to donate, and can honour your wish on your behalf.”

Most organ donations come from deceased donors. However, Alberta’s living donor programs help save lives and improve the quality of life for people as well.

54-year-old Nancy Langlois made the decision to anonymously donate her kidney after seeing billboards from Albertans in need. She answered the call after seeing a plea from someone with her blood type.

“I’ve always been very healthy and know that living with one kidney is perfectly fine, so I thought, ‘if I can do this for somebody, then I will.”

“For healthy people who donate, it’s not that daunting. Nothing for me has changed. It was a tiny blip in my life. Within weeks of the surgery, I was back to doing all the things I did before – riding my dirt bike, snowboarding. It’s not as dramatic as people think it is.”

Over 814,000 Albertans have legally registered to affirm their wishes to donate their organs and/or tissues on the province’s online organ and tissue donation registry since it was launched in 2014.

Additionally, Albertans can sign up at a registry office when they renew their driver’s license and other identification.

This week, April 24 to 30, also marks National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week.