Donor Evaluation Tool: A New Technology Improves Donor Enrolment on ICU

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Transplantation Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Uncertainty in intensive care units (ICUs) regarding deceased organ donor eligibility can hinder organ donation pathways.
• Healthcare professionals may incorrectly exclude potential donors based on outdated medical criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of Swisstransplant's digital donor evaluation tool (DET) implemented in 2021 on organ donor referral and enrollment.
• To analyze the types of cases where the DET was utilized and its effectiveness in facilitating eligibility decisions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 156 requests submitted to the DET by local hospital organ donation coordinators in 2022.
• Review of reasons for DET use, including malignancies, infectious diseases, age, and co-morbidities.
• Comparison of demographic and organ retrieval data between DET-referred donors and non-DET referred donors.

Main Results:

• 117 patients (75.0%) were initially accepted as potential donors via the DET.
• 60 patients (51.3%) ultimately became actual organ donors.
• DET donors were older (65.3 vs. 56.8 years) and yielded fewer organs (1.9 vs. 3.2) compared to non-DET donors, suggesting its use in more complex cases.

Conclusions:

• The digital donor evaluation tool effectively supports reporting and streamlines eligibility decisions for potential organ donors with complex medical profiles.
• The DET assists in overcoming uncertainties, potentially leading to an increase in overall organ donation rates.