Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Technique of Porcine Liver Procurement and Orthotopic Transplantation using an Active Porto-Caval Shunt
Published on: May 7, 2015
Organ Procurement From Poisoned Patients: A 14-Year Survey in 2 Academic Centers
Farangis Sadeghi1, Maral Ramezani, Farahnaz Sadegh Beigee
1From the School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Objectives:
Organ transplant from poisoned donors is an issue that has received much attention, especially over the past decade. Unfortunately, there are still opponents to this issue who emphasize that toxins and drugs affect the body's organs and do not consider organs from poisoned donors appropriate for transplantation.
Materials And Methods:
Cases of brain death due to poisoning were collected from 2 academic centers in Tehran, Iran during a period from 2006 to 2020. Donor information and recipient condition at 1 month and 12 months after transplant and the subsequent transplant success rates were investigated.
Results:
From 102 poisoned donors, most were 30 to 40 years old (33.4%) and most were men (55.9%). The most common causes of poisoning among donors were opioids (28.4%). Six candidate donors had been referred with cardiorespiratory arrest; these patients had organs that were in suitable condition, and transplant was successful. Acute kidney injury was seen in 30 donors, with emergency dialysis performed in 23 cases. For 51% of donors, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed. The most donated organs were the liver (81.4%), left kidney (81.4%), and right kidney (80.4%). Survival rate of recipients at 1 month and 12 months was 92.5% and 91.4%, respectively. Graft rejection rate at 1 month and 12 months after transplant was 0.7% and 2.21%, respectively.
Conclusions:
Organ donation from poisoning-related brain deaths is one of the best sources of organ supply for people in need. If the organ is in optimal condition before transplant, there are no exclusions for use of the graft.
Insights
Organ donation from poisoning-related brain deaths is a valuable source for transplants. Organs in optimal condition from poisoned donors can be successfully transplanted with high survival and low rejection rates.
Area of Science:
- Transplantation Medicine
- Toxicology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Organ transplantation from donors deceased due to poisoning remains controversial.
- Opponents argue that toxins and drugs compromise organ suitability for transplantation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the viability and outcomes of organ transplantation from brain-dead donors due to poisoning.
- To assess the success rates and recipient conditions following transplants using organs from poisoned donors.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 102 poisoned donors from 2006-2020 in Tehran, Iran.
- Evaluation of donor demographics, causes of poisoning, organ condition, and transplant success rates.
- Follow-up of recipient condition at 1 and 12 months post-transplant.
Main Results:
- Opioid poisoning was the most common cause (28.4%).
- High donation rates for liver (81.4%) and kidneys (left 81.4%, right 80.4%).
- Recipient survival rates were 92.5% at 1 month and 91.4% at 12 months, with low graft rejection (0.7% at 1 month, 2.21% at 12 months).
Conclusions:
- Organ donation from poisoning-related brain deaths is a significant source of organs.
- Organs in optimal condition from poisoned donors are suitable for transplantation without exclusion.
- Successful outcomes support the use of these organs when medically appropriate.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy...
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction