# Children’s organ transplantations Keywords: - [pediatric organ transplantation](< /en/search?q=pediatric organ transplantation >) - [New Children’s Hospital](< /en/search?q=New Children’s Hospital >) The New Children’s Hospital manages all organ transplantations for children in Finland. More than 550 children and adolescents to date have received an organ transplant.  The indications for organ transplantations in children differ from those in adults. When a transplantation is indicated, it is often because of a congenital structural defect or condition where the need for a transplant becomes evident in the first few months of life. An organ transplantation is the final resort in treating an incurable condition. We mainly use organs donated by adults for children’s organ transplantations. This places certain demands on the quality of the transplants, because children are expected to have to live a long life with their replacement organ. The long-term survival rates are more than 90% for children’s kidney transplantations and about 70% for children’s heart and liver transplantations. Children and adolescents who have received an organ transplant can largely lead a normal life but will need to take anti-rejection medication and be monitored for the rest of their lives. Sometimes it is necessary to transplant several organs at once. Examples of this are heart-lung transplantations, liver and kidney transplantations, and liver and bowel transplantations. ## Kidney transplantations --- In a kidney transplantation, one of the parents can be the donor. We are aiming to increase the percentage of familial donors. Familial donors account for about 50% of all kidney transplants given to children. For a donor, giving up one kidney does not cause health complications. The most common indications for transplantation are congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNF), congenital malformations of the urinary tract and other congenital conditions. ## Liver transplantations --- In liver transplantations, we can reduce the size of the adult transplant to fit the child. The most common indications for a liver transplantation are biliary atresia, metabolic disorders, liver cancer, and hepatitis. Familial donors are not used for liver transplantations. ## Heart transplantations --- In heart and lung transplantations for young children, the donor and recipient must match in size. Because of this, the waiting time is often long. If time is running short, we can support the recipient’s heart with an artificial heart for a few months. The most common indications for a heart transplantation are congenital heart defects and cardiomyopathy. ## Lung transplantations --- Indications for a lung transplantation for a child include severe heart defects, a pulmonary vascular disorder or cystic fibrosis. ## Intestinal transplantations --- The most common diseases requiring intestinal transplantation are short-bowel syndrome, intestinal motility disorder, and rare intestinal mucosal diseases and tumors. Intestinal transplantation is considered when, in addition to failure of bowel function, there are serious complications associated with parenteral nutrition. Since a suitable donor must be at least 20% lighter in weight than the recipient, the waiting list for transplants is long for children. Likelihood to recommend (NPS) ## Children and Adolescents Feedback (pcs) 2790 Situation 2.5.2026 -100 80 100 i What is NPS? ## Units related to the service ### [ Ward Taika, New Children's Hospital ](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/new-childrens-hospital/ward-taika-new-childrens-hospital) On Ward Taika, we treat patients with cancer or hematological diseases as well as stem cell transplantation patients, and kidney, liver and organ…  ### [ Anesthesia and Surgery Unit, New Children's Hospital ](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/new-childrens-hospital/anesthesia-and-surgery-unit-new-childrens) In the Anesthesia and Surgery Unit of New Children's Hospital, we treat patients under the age of 16.  ### [ Day Unit and Appointments Taika, New Children's Hospital ](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/new-childrens-hospital/day-unit-and-appointments-taika-new) In addition to the day hospital activities, Day Unit and Appointments Taika has a procedural unit, hematological outpatient clinic with physicians and…  ### [ Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Laakso, New Children's Hospital ](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/new-childrens-hospital/pediatric-intensive-care-unit-laakso-new) In Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Laakso at New Children's Hospital, we treat children who are critically or severely ill.  Updated: 27.10.2025 Print this page