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. 1994 Oct;220(4):578-83; discussion 583-5.
doi: 10.1097/00000658-199410000-00016.

Nonheartbeating cadaveric organ donation

M S Orloff  1 , A I Reed, E Erturk, R A Kruk, S A Paprocki, S C Cimbalo, G J Cerilli
Affiliations

Nonheartbeating cadaveric organ donation

M S Orloff et al. Ann Surg. 1994 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: The authors evaluated the potential use of nonheartbeating (NHB) cadaver donors as an additional source to the current supply of brain-dead cadaver donors.

Summary background data: The numbers of cadaveric donors has not increased significantly during the last 5 years, despite a rising need for transplantable organs. Any improvement in cadaveric organ procurement will depend on the use of previously unrecognized potential donors.

Methods: During a 2-year period, 24 kidneys were retrieved from 12 NHB donors. Nineteen kidneys were transplanted.

Results: These kidneys sustained a mean warm ischemia time of 26 minutes (range 20-35 min). A mean lowest creatinine level of 2.0 mg/dL, (range 1.1-3.0 mg/dL), the rate of postoperative dialysis (22%), and a 1-year graft survival rate of 76% for kidneys from NHB-donated kidneys compare favorably to expected results achieved nationally from brain-dead cadaveric donors.

Conclusions: Nonheartbeating donor kidneys can yield acceptable graft function and be of no disadvantage to recipients of cadaver transplants.

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