Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2018 Oct;51(5):328-332. 10.5090/kjtcs.2018.51.5.328.

Extracorporeal Life Support in Organ Transplant Donors

• Chang W

• KMID: 2424748
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5090/kjtcs.2018.51.5.328

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) can be applied in brain-dead donors for organ perfusion before donation, thereby expanding the donor pool. The aim of this study was to examine the benefits and early clinical outcomes of ECLS for organ preservation.
METHODS
Between June 2012 and April 2017, 9 patients received ECLS with therapeutic intent or for organ preservation. The following data were collected: demographics, purpose and duration of ECLS, cause of death, dose of vasoactive drugs, and need for temporary dialysis before organ retrieval. The early clinical outcomes of recipients were studied, as well as survival and graft function at 1 month.
RESULTS
ECLS was initiated for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 5 patients. The other patients needed ECLS due to hemodynamic deterioration during the assessment of brain death. We successfully retrieved 18 kidneys, 7 livers, and 1 heart from 9 donors. All organs were transplanted and none were discarded. Only 1 case of delayed kidney graft function was noted, and all 26 recipients were discharged without any significant complications.
CONCLUSION
The benefits of protecting the vital organs of donors is significant, and ECLS for organ preservation can be widely used in the transplantation field.

Keyword

Transplantation; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Tissue and organ procurement

MeSH Terms

Brain Death
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Cause of Death
Demography
Dialysis
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Heart
Hemodynamics
Humans
Kidney
Liver
Organ Preservation
Perfusion
Tissue and Organ Harvesting
Tissue and Organ Procurement
Tissue Donors*
Transplantation
Transplants*