Abdominal organ procurement technique for donors after circulatory death

Abstract

In recent years, donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors have increased and the "super-rapid" technique is widely used for DCD organ procurement to minimize the duration of organ warm ischemia. However, this technique is associated with increased risk of surgical injury due to the haste in procuring the organs. This study demonstrated the detailed technique used in DCD organ procurement and the strategies to prevent surgical injury during the procurement. Before a donor operation, procurement teams should discuss the surgical steps and set up the surgical equipment. During DCD organ procurement, the liver is first procured followed by the pancreas and the kidneys. A standardized approach of DCD organ procurement will be crucial to optimize DCD transplant outcomes and minimize the risks of surgical injury.