Whence the lungs? A study to assess suitability of donor lungs for transplantation

Efforts at clinical lung transplantation have been hampered by an insufficient donor pool. To estimate the number of potential suitable lung donors, we conducted a UNOS-sponsored survey of organ procurement organizations and collected data with respect to possible lung donation from human cardiac donors. Contact with OPOs was made by telephone after cardiac donors were identified by UNOS. Of 150 cardiac donors, 7 were utilized for lung or heart-lung transplantation. By our criteria, however, 47 additional donors had lungs that may have been suitable for transplantation but were not utilized, and frequently were not offered for transplantation for a variety of reasons. This survey implies that approximately 25% of cardiac donors likely have lungs that may be suitable for transplantation.