Organ Donation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Organ Donation, including details on risks, procedure, surgery, outcomes.

Non-heart beating organ donation: overview and future perspectives.

Moers C, Leuvenink HG, Ploeg RJ

Surgery Research Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. c.moers@chir.umcg.nl

New indications for organ transplantation combined with a stagnating number of available donor grafts have severely lengthened the waiting list for almost all types of transplantations. This has led to a renewed interest in non-heart beating (NHB) donation, as a possible solution to bridge the gap between supply and demand. In this review, we present an overview of current NHB donation practice, outcome, existing problems and future perspectives. We focus on possible improvements in donor management, recipient care and new methods of organ preservation that may be better suited for these marginal organs. Successful institution of NHB protocols depends on adapting current transplantation practice at all levels, which is one of the greatest challenges for researchers and professionals in this interesting re-emerging field.

Published 20 June 2007 in Transpl Int, 20(7): 567-75.
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