Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 15, 2026
Large-Animal Model of Donation after Circulatory Death and Normothermic Regional Perfusion for Cardiac Assessment
Published on: May 10, 2022
First Intraoperative Cardiac Catheterization During Donor Normothermic Regional Perfusion
Kevin C McGann1, Aaron M Williams1, Kashish Goel2
1From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Insights
This study introduces a new coronary angiography technique for donation after circulatory death (DCD) heart donors during normothermic regional perfusion (NRP). This innovation aims to improve donor heart assessment and increase organ utilization for transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Heart transplantation is limited by donor organ scarcity.
- Donation after circulatory death (DCD) and extended criteria donor (ECD) allografts expand donor pools.
- Coronary assessment in DCD hearts is often limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an innovative technique for DCD donor coronary angiography during normothermic regional perfusion (NRP).
- To address the limitations in coronary assessment for DCD donor hearts.
Main Methods:
- Performed on-table cardiac catheterization in a DCD heart donor.
- Utilized normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) support during the procedure.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated a novel technique for DCD donor coronary angiography during NRP.
- This represents the first reported instance of on-table cardiac catheterization in a DCD donor under NRP.
Conclusions:
- The presented technique offers a potential method to enhance coronary assessment in DCD heart donors.
- Further research is needed to establish the widespread implementation and impact of this technique on DCD organ utilization and patient survival.
Abstract:
Heart transplantation continues to be the definitive treatment option for end-stage heart failure, but its availability remains limited by the imbalance between the supply and demand of suitable donor organs. Recent advances in the field have underscored the feasibility of expanding the pool of candidate heart donors, as illustrated by the successes of donation after circulatory death (DCD) and extended criteria donor (ECD) allografts. However, the information available to evaluating centers for coronary assessment in DCD hearts is variable and frequently limited. Here, we present an innovative technique for DCD donor coronary angiography performed during normothermic regional perfusion (NRP). To our knowledge, this is the first case of an on-table cardiac catheterization to be performed in a DCD heart donor during NRP support. Additional studies are needed to determine how this technique could be implemented to increase DCD organ utilization, and, in doing so, save lives.
