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Development of a successful non-heart-beating organ donation program
Mark Reiner1, Danielle Cornell, Richard J Howard
1LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, Gainesville, Fla, USA.
Progress in Transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)
|October 16, 2003
Summary
Implementing a non-heart-beating donor program significantly increased organ recovery for transplants. This initiative successfully boosted the number of available organs, aiding more patients awaiting life-saving procedures.
Area of Science:
- Transplantation Medicine
- Organ Procurement
- Nephrology and Urology
Background:
- Growing organ shortage necessitates utilizing expanded-criteria donors.
- Non-heart-beating donors were previously underutilized.
- Organ procurement organizations play a crucial role in donor recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the establishment and impact of a non-heart-beating donor program.
- To increase the recovery of organs from non-heart-beating donors.
- To evaluate the program's effect on overall organ procurement rates.
Main Methods:
- Concerted effort to increase non-heart-beating donor recovery starting in 1998.
- Detailed steps including transplant center support, protocol development, and education.
- Implementation, follow-up, and analysis of program outcomes.
Main Results:
- Non-heart-beating donor rates increased from 2-5% to over 10% annually.
- Successful transplantation of 61 out of 82 recovered kidneys.
- Successful transplantation of 18 out of 20 recovered livers.
Conclusions:
- A dedicated non-heart-beating donor program can substantially increase organ availability.
- This program significantly contributes to the number of successful organ transplants.
- Utilizing non-heart-beating donors is vital for alleviating organ shortages.