Organs transplanted from intoxicated donors

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of our study was to evaluate short- and long-term results of transplants from cadaver donors who have died of poisoning by various substances. Materials and methods The actuarial survival rate of organs from intoxicated donors was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Among the 507 donors between January 1998 and December 2002, 5 (0.98%) had a cause of brain death of poisoning, namely, organo-phosphates (n = 2), methanol (n = 1), cyanide (n = 1) and acetylsalicilic acid(n = 1), from whom were procured 10 kidneys, 1 liver, 2 corneas, and 1 set of bones. The follow up for patients receiving solid organs was 15.2 months (range, 0–48 months). At 3 months, 90% of kidneys had normal function. No delayed graft function rejection episodes or major complications were reported in any recipient. None showed evidence of acute or chronic poisoning. Two died, 1 early mortality was due to anesthetic complications and the other at 17 months to an unknown cause. Actuarial kidney survival rates were 90% and 80% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. The liver recipient was well at the end of follow up. Conclusion Using organs of poisoned donors is feasible with comparable graft survival rates to other recipient.