Analysis of organ donation in Italy.

In 1995 the Italian Institute of Health began assembling information regarding organ donors, recipients, and transplants. Data on more than 3000 transplants were collected and recorded to date. In addition to characteristics of donors and donating hospitals, this article describes donation activity and organ procurement in Italy from 1992 to 1996. Despite the encouraging results, the donation situation in Italy remains a challenge due to the nonhomogeneous distribution of organ donation throughout the country. It is hoped that an increase in the rate of organ donation and procurement in some regions will enable Italy to reach the European mean.