Practice Patterns of Liver Allograft Acceptance from Donors After Circulatory Death at US Transplant Centers

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2023-11, Vol.55 (9), p.2159-2163
• Main Authors: Taj, Raeda, Olaso, Danae, Schnickel, Gabriel T., Brubaker, Aleah L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Donation after circulatory death (DCD); Functional donor warm ischemic time (f-DWIT); Ischemic cholangiopathy; Liver transplant; Organ utilization
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2023.08.006

•DCD liver transplantation is increasing at most US transplant centers•Most respondents have experience with either NMP or NRP for DCD liver allografts•DCD liver assessment is impacted by many factors and is variable across centers•f-DWIT was the most important donor variable; there is significant variation in center definition of f-DWIT United States (US) transplant centers have low rates of liver allograft utilization from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors. Prolonged functional donor warm ischemic time (f-DWIT) is associated with worse outcomes; however, center practices regarding f-DWIT are unclear. As emerging technologies are changing the landscape of DCD liver transplantation, this study aims to gain insights into US centers' practices around DCD liver allografts utilization. An electronic survey was distributed to transplant surgeons at US transplant centers from May to July 2022. Responses were received from 108 transplant surgeons. 44.4% of respondents reported their center's annual DCD liver transplant volume as