Donor evaluation and maintenance of donation after cardiac death

Abstract

Objective To investigate the critical factors of donor evaluation and maintenance of donation after cardiac death (DCD),and summary the experience of donor evaluation and maintenance of DCD.Methods From December 2011 to August 2013,75 cases of DCD and 142 cases of DCD donor renal transplantation were performed in our hospital.Donor evaluation was performed as early as possible,and the donor vital organ perfusion was successfully kept at acceptable level.Results Seventy-five DCD cases were performed,including 71 cases of C-Ⅲ and 4 cases of C-Ⅱ.One hundred and forty-eight donated kidneys were obtained and 142 kidneys were used for transplantation.Among 142 cases of renal transplant recipients,the incidence of acute rejection was 6.3％ (9/142),and 16 cases (11.3％) appeared postoperative renal delayed graft function (DGF).The incidence of DGF was significantly lower when using LifePort system than that of not using LifePort (8.6％ versus 23.1％,P＜0.05).One hundred and thirty-five cases with successful renal transplant were followed up from 1 to 20 months.The function of donor kidney maintained normal.Conclusions Early evaluation and maintenance of the potential organ donor are two keys concerning the final number of donors,the viability of the organs and the effect of transplantation.The application of LifePort system plays an important role in preserving the donor function and reducing the incidence of DGF. Key words: Donation after cardiac death; Organ donor evaluation and maintenance; Kidney transplantation