['New pathways to organ donation'; a recommendation of the Dutch Health Council]

Abstract

Despite recent efforts at improvement, the current status of postmortem organ donation in the Netherlands is a reason for serious concern. The waiting lists for all organ transplantations are increasing in length. The Dutch Health Council was asked by the Minister of Health to report on any available alternative sources of donor organs, focusing especially on donation from living donors and postmortem donors in whom the heart is no longer beating. Kidney donation by living relatives is a well-known procedure that has been performed since 1950. Since HLA-matching is now less important due to new immunosuppressive regimens, transplants from unrelated living volunteers are also possible with good results. Live donation from emotionally involved persons should be encouraged. In case of ABO incompatibility, donors could be exchanged via the organ exchange institution. Live donation of liver segments by an adult to benefit a child recipient is justified. In case of an adult recipient this should be performed only under exceptional circumstances. Live donation of lung lobes and segments of intestine is still in a developmental phase. Postmortem donation of kidneys and livers from donors in whom the heart is no longer beating should also be encouraged. Donation of the lungs and pancreas from these donors is still an experimental procedure.