Full-Face Allograft Retrieval in a Multiple-Organ Donation in a Maastricht III Type Donor

Background: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) has emerged as a potential source of transplantable organs. To date, there have been no reports of face procurement in AD, and "face first" with ex situ perfusion has become the gold standard technique for obtaining facial allografts in most centres. Objectives: We report a case of successful total face and kidney transplantation from a 47-year-old male AD donor. Methods: Immediately after confirmation of death, the "rapid recovery" technique was performed and a cannula was placed in the ascending aorta for in situ perfusion of the facial allograft simultaneously with the abdominal team. Results: The total ischaemic time from donor cardiac death to face reperfusion in the recipient was 5.5 h. Excellent renal and facial allograft function was reported.