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Which organs can be transplanted from deceased donors?

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Kidney transplant — transplant British surgeon Andrew Ready flushing a donated kidney during a transplant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England, 2006.

Deceased donors can provide several vital organs for transplant surgery, which are essential for saving lives and improving the health of recipients. The primary organs that can be transplanted from deceased donors include:

Heart12
Lungs12
Liver12
Kidneys12
Pancreas (including the islets of Langerhans)12
Intestines1

These organs must be recovered and transplanted within a limited timeframe to remain viable, as they are highly susceptible to damage once deprived of their blood supply. For instance, while kidneys can be preserved for longer periods using specialized techniques, organs such as the heart and lungs must be transplanted very quickly—often within a few hours—to ensure successful outcomes.12

Organ donation is a profoundly generous act, and the decision to donate is supported by most major religions as a charitable contribution to others.1