Donation After Circulatory Death Heart Transplantation: A Narrative Review

Heart transplantation is the definitive treatment for refractory, end-stage heart failure. The number of patients awaiting transplantation far exceeds available organs. In an effort to expand the donor pool, donation after circulatory death (DCD) heart transplantation has garnered renewed interest. Unlike, donation after brain death, DCD donors do not meet criteria for brain death and are dependent on life-sustaining therapies. Procurement can include a direct strategy or normothermic regional perfusion, whereby there is restoration of perfusion to the organ prior to explantation.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Review Article Source Type: research