Below are a few of the functions available. Due to the compassion of donor families, tissue was recovered from 193 donors in KODA's service area in 1999. The tissue donated includes skin, bone, veins, and heart valves. After processing, these tissues will be used in various procedures to help hundreds of people throughout KODA's service area and nationwide. In addition to these tissues, KODA works very closely with the University of Louisville Lions Eye Bank and the University of Kentucky Lions Eye Bank to coordinate the recovery of corneas for transplant.
Tissue donation differs from organ donation in several ways.
One of the most significant differences is that tissue may be donated in cardiac standstill deaths, as opposed to organ donation which requires that the donor have a beating heart although they have been declared brain dead. Tissue donation remains an option for several hours after death, and is a possibility even if the deceased did not die in a hospital. Tissue recovered by KODA is implanted at many hospitals throughout KODA's service area and nationwide. KODA distributes frozen and freeze dried, musculoskeletal tissue, and frozen skin tissue to physicians, hospitals, oral surgeons and other clinical users. Allografts which are currently available, can generally be delivered to hospitals within 24 hours, however they must be ordered prior to 3 pm.