Keywords :
Thoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP); donation after circulatory death (DCD); heart donation; heart transplantation; transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE); Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Humans; Perfusion/methods; Tissue Donors; Heart Transplantation/methods; Tissue and Organ Procurement; Perfusion; Transplantation
Abstract :
[en] Heart donation after circulatory death (DCD) can significantly expand the heart donor pool, helping to overcome the problem of organ shortage and the increase in waiting list mortality and morbidity. To improve the outcome of DCD heart transplantation, thoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) can be performed by selectively restoring circulation followed by in vivo functional heart assessment. Here, we report on the use of periprocedural transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) as a minimally invasive cardiac assessment tool during different stages of a DCD heart procurement procedure using TA-NRP. We conclude that TOE is a valuable method to assess the donor heart for transplantation eligibility before and after withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy and during subsequent TA-NRP.
Funding text :
We sincerely thank the collaborators of the Leuven and Liège DCD transplantation program and the staff of the intensive care units. JG received a postdoctoral research fellowship granted by the University Hospitals Leuven. CV received a clinical research grant of the “Klinische Onderzoeksraad” (KOOR, UZ Leuven). JB received a grant of the Foundation for Cardiac Surgery.We sincerely thank the collaborators of the Leuven and Liège DCD transplantation program and the staff of the intensive care units. JG received a postdoctoral research fellowship granted by the University Hospitals Leuven. CV received a clinical research grant of the “Klinische Onderzoeksraad” (KOOR, UZ Leuven). JB received a grant of the Foundation for Cardiac Surgery.
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