Exploring the challenges: main contraindications in organ donation in Colombia

Area of Science:

• Transplantation immunology
• Public health
• Medical ethics

Background:

• Organ transplantation is vital for end-stage organ failure patients.
• A critical shortage of organ donors globally impacts transplant success.
• Colombia faces a significant gap between donor supply and patient demand.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and categorize contraindication reasons in potential organ donors in Colombia.
• To analyze contraindication data from three regional centers.
• To inform strategies for improving organ donor conversion rates.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study utilizing retrospective data from the Colombian National Transplant Registry.
• Evaluation of 1451 potential donors reported in 2022.
• Contraindications classified as medical, medico-legal, or logistical, with statistical analysis using R software.

Main Results:

• Out of 1451 evaluated donors, 849 (58.5%) were contraindicated.
• Leading contraindications included multiple organ failure (29.8%), comorbidities (20.8%), and failure to meet brain death criteria (15.3%).
• Significant variations in contraindication rates were observed across regional centers.

Conclusions:

• Many medical contraindications may be manageable by weighing recipient risks and benefits.
• Implementing a personalized, multidisciplinary approach with evidence-based criteria is recommended.
• Tailored, real-time decision-making can enhance organ donation approval rates in Colombia.