[Organ procurement and transplantation from non-heart-beating donors]

Nephrol Ther. 2008 Feb;4(1):5-14. doi: 10.1016/j.nephro.2007.07.005. Epub 2007 Oct 24.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Despite a significant increase in procurement and transplantation activities observed in France in the last eight years, the shortage in grafts is on the rise and demand keeps being much higher than supply. Since 1968 and until now, procurement was limited to heart beating brain donors. The results of kidneys transplanted from non-heart-beating donors have significantly improved and are nowadays comparable to those of kidney transplantations from brain death donors, thanks to a more accurate selection of donors and recipients, to better respect of preventing cold and warm ischemia times and to several major therapeutic innovations. Procurement on non-heart-beating donors are therefore being reconsidered under considerations of feasibility, results and ethical and legal consequences, under a specific medical protocol issued by the agency of biomedicine with the pilot hospital center agreement to comply with the protocol. Referring to foreign experiences, this program is likely to decrease the organ shortage, which is jeopardizing the treatment of a large number of patients awaiting transplantation.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / ethics
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / methods*