Uterus procurement from deceased donor for transplantation

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Transplantation Surgery

Background:

• Absolute uterine factor infertility prevents pregnancy.
• Uterine transplantation, especially from deceased donors, is an emerging field with limited prior success.
• Recent live births have renewed interest in deceased donor uterine transplantation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and refine a technique for uterus procurement and preparation from brain-dead donors for transplantation.
• To assess the feasibility and outcomes of using deceased donor uteri for transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen uteri were retrieved from multi-organ donors after obtaining family consent.
• Ten uteri underwent bench surgery utilizing the developed procurement and preparation technique.
• The technique focused on minimizing manipulation of uterine vascular pedicles.

Main Results:

• Two procured uteri were clinically used for transplantation.
• The first successful live birth worldwide from a deceased donor uterus was achieved.
• The surgical technique was optimized for improved efficiency and reduced vascular pedicle manipulation.

Conclusions:

• The developed technique facilitates successful uterine transplantation from deceased donors.
• This approach offers a promising new avenue for treating uterine factor infertility.
• The model is replicable and can be further optimized for broader clinical application.