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You'd Be Surprised How Many Organs You Can Replace

Ever wonder how many of your body's organs you can really replace? It might be more than you think.

Needing new organs isn’t ideal, but if this does happen to you it’s nice to know many human organs are indeed replaceable (with the right donor). Modern medicine has come a long way, and the number of organs you could replace might surprise you.

Engineered Organs

Believe it or not, scientists can engineer certain body tissues (grow replacement tissues in labs) to replace diseased or damaged organs. According to Wake Forest School of Medicine, the following tissues have been engineered and used to treat disease in humans: muscles, bladders, blood vessels, skin, trachea and esophaguses. Wake Forest Medical School also notes that scientists are working on new strategies to engineer solid organs like kidneys, livers, pancreases and hearts.

Skin and Faces

Skin can be grafted from other parts of your body to damaged or diseased areas. Or, it can be transplanted from donors. The most comprehensive full face transplant was completes in 2012 at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and the first full face transplant was completed in the U.S. in 2011 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. This type of surgery can be beneficial for patients with significant burns, skin or facial injuries, and other disfigurements to improve function, appearance and self-esteem.

Kidneys

Kidneys are common replaceable organs, and kidney transplants have been taking place in the U.S. since 1954, says Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Kidney’s can be received from living or deceased donors, and must be a match in blood type (and several other matching factors) with donors. Kidney transplants are by far the most common organ transplants performed worldwide, say the World Health Organization.

Livers

Liver transplants are fairly common as well, but there aren’t as many livers available as there are people in need of new livers. Mayo Clinic says that about 7,200 liver transplants were performed in the U.S. in the year 2014, but 15,000 people were on liver transplant waiting lists. Fortunately, Mayo Clinic says a human liver regenerates and returns to normal size after removing part of the organ, so living-donor liver transplants are alternatives to waiting for livers from people who have died.

Pancreases

Pancreas transplants aren’t common because of the risks involved. But, this type of transplant can help patients with type 1 diabetes avoid having to take insulin. Pancreas transplants are sometimes done at the same time as kidney transplants, says MedlinePlus.

Hearts

Hearts can be replaced as well, which might be indicated for patients with heart defects or end-stage heart failure. Diseased hearts are replaced with hearts from deceased donors, and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says heart transplants have good success rates — including survival rates of about 85 percent just one year after surgery.

Lungs

Diseased lungs can be replaced with healthy lungs from deceased donors, and may involve replacing one or both lungs. Sometimes lung transplants are combined with heart transplants, and can drastically improve health and quality of life in patients with severe lung conditions. But as with any type of organ transplant, lung transplants do come with risks (some of which are life-threatening), so it’s important to chat with your doctor about risks vs. benefits.

Other Replaceable Tissues and Organs

Many other organs and tissues can be replaced using transplantation. According to Cleveland Clinic, these include: bone, bone marrow, intestines, middle ear, cornea, heart valves and connective tissue.

[Image via Shutterstock]

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