The achievements of the organ transplantation program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the year 2012 reflect the progressive success in the number of organ donation and transplantation, but with escalating numbers of end-stage organ failure patients awaiting transplantation. The estimated need for liver transplantation in Saudi Arabia is 20 per million populations per year. The KSA has an active deceased transplant program under the supervision of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT). At the end of the year 2012, a total of 9451 possible deceased cases have been reported to SCOT of which 631 were reported during year 2012 from 97 intensive care units around the Kingdom. By the end of year 2012, a total of 570 living donor and 671 deceased donor liver transplantation have been performed inside the KSA of which 147 were transplanted in 4 active liver transplant centers during that year. In addition, by the end of year 2012, a total of 4852 living donor and 2349 deceased donor renal transplantation have been performed inside the KSA of which 553 were transplanted in 16 active renal transplant centers during that year. By the end of year 2012, a total of 206 deceased donor heart transplantation have been performed inside the KSA, and 540 were used as source for heart valves; 19 whole hearts were transplanted in one active heart transplant center during that year. In addition, by 2012, 70 lung transplant operations and 19 harvested pancreas were successfully transplanted. We still have much work in order to achieve the self-sufficiency of organ donation and transplantation; however, we believe that we have made major strides towards this goal in the KSA.
Volume : 11
Issue : 6
Pages : 13
Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia