An Integrative Review on Exploring Organ Donation After Death by Circulatory Criteria in Canada

Introduction: Rising discrepancies between supply and demand of lifesaving organs necessitates considering advancements to improve the health outcomes of Canadians. There is an increased use of organs after death by circulatory criteria, however the evolution of this treatment should be explored to continue to advance practices and save lives. Objective: To summarize the literature on the evolution and use of organ donation after death by circulatory criteria in Canada, to highlight how this donation modality may support future advancements. Methods: A search of electronic databases for any date until June 1st, 2024, was performed. Additional searches of grey literature using Google Scholar and the snowball technique were performed. Applicable documents underwent a multi-phase screening process, and data were extracted, analyzed, and evaluated. Results: There were 793 documents located, and 50 were included in this review. Three main categories emerged among the documents that described the evolution of guidelines for death by circulatory criteria organ donation, experiences with program development and delivery for death by circulatory criteria organ donation and Canadian perspectives of this donation modality. Discussion: Canada has made strides in circulatory criteria organ donation practices through consensus meetings and discussions on key topics, yet variations in practice exist across the country that warrant further investigation when considering future advancements. Conclusion: While national efforts have advanced practices, ongoing variations across programs highlighted the need for continued evaluation, education and harmonization to maximize the life-saving potential of organ donation practices.