[Harvesting multiple organs]

The development of organ transplants is limited by the shortage of organs. The improvement of this situation depends on two factors: increased awareness by the general public that refraining from refusing the removal of organs from the body of a patient with brain death is the most modern form of solidarity; and increased awareness by the medical profession that removal of organs should be proposed for every patient with brain death and that adequate resuscitative techniques should be used to preserve the organs in these patients. When the decision to harvest organs is taken, the transplant specialists must decide whether an organ should be used or not. Advances have been made in preservation techniques but are still insufficient to allow a reduction in immunosuppression. The UW solution is a major advance for liver, kidney and pancreas transplants. During harvesting, the separation of the vascular pedicles requires a good knowledge of surgical anatomy. Furthermore, the needs of the other surgical groups should be taken into account and concessions made to allow the harvesting of the greatest possible number of organs and consequently the treatment of the largest number of patients awaiting organs.