Combined lung and liver procurement in controlled donation after circulatory death using normothermic abdominal perfusion. Initial experience in two Spanish centers

Combining simultaneously lung and liver procurement in controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) using normothermic abdominal perfusion (NRP) for abdominal grafts and cooling and rapid recovery technique (RR) for the lungs increases the complexity of the procurement procedure and might injure the grafts. A total of 19 cDCDs from two centers using this combined procedure were evaluated, and 16 liver and 21 lung transplantations were performed. As controls, 34 donors after brain death (DBDs) were included (29 liver and 41 lung transplantations were performed). Two cDCD liver recipients developed primary nonfunction (12.5%). No cases of ischemic cholangiopathy were observed among cDCD recipients. The 1‐year and 2‐year liver recipients survival was 87.5% and 87.5% for the cDCD group, and 96% and 84.5% for the DBD group, respectively (P = .496). The 1‐year and 2‐year lung recipients survival was 84% and 84% for the cDCD group and 90% and 90% for the DBD group, respectively (P = .577). This is the largest experience ever reported in cDCD with the use of NRP combined with RR of the lungs. This combined method offers an outstanding recovery rate and liver and lung recipients survival comparable with those transplanted with DBDs. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.     

Utilization of deceased donors during a pandemic: argument against using SARS‐CoV‐2–positive donors

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has rapidly become an unprecedented pandemic that has impacted society, disrupted hospital functions, strained health care resources, and impacted the lives of transplant professionals. Despite this, organ failure and the need for transplant continues throughout the United States. Considering the perpetual scarcity of deceased donor organs, Kates et al present a viewpoint that advocates for the utilization of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)–positive donors in selected cases. We present a review of the current literature that details the potential negative consequences of COVID‐19–positive donors. The factors we consider include (1) the risk of blood transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2, (2) involvement of donor organs, (3) lack of effective therapies, (4) exposure of health care and recovery teams, (5) disease transmission and propagation, and (6) hospital resource utilization. While we acknowledge that transplant fulfills the mission of saving lives, it is imperative to consider the consequences not only to our recipients but also to the community and to health care workers, particularly in the absence of effective preventative or curative therapies. For these reasons, we believe the evidence and risks show that COVID‐19 infection should continue to remain a contraindication for donation, as has been the initial response of donation and transplant societies.     

Estimating the potential pool of uncontrolled DCD donors in the United States

Organs from uncontrolled DCD donors (uDCDs) have expanded donation in Europe since the 1980s, but are seldom used in the United States. Cited barriers include lack of knowledge about the potential donor pool, lack of robust outcomes data, lack of standard donor eligibility criteria and preservation methods, and logistical and ethical challenges. To determine whether it would be appropriate to invest in addressing these barriers and building this practice, we sought to enumerate the potential pool of uDCD donors. Using data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, the largest all‐payer emergency department (ED) database, between 2013 and 2016, we identified patients who had refractory cardiac arrest in the ED. We excluded patients with contraindications to both deceased donation (including infection, malignancy, cardiopulmonary disease) and uDCD (including hemorrhage, major polytrauma, burns, and poisoning). We identified 9828 (range: 9454‐10 202) potential uDCDs/y; average age was 32 years, and all were free of major comorbidity. Of these, 91.1% had traumatic deaths, with major causes including nonhead blunt injuries (43.2%) and head injuries (40.1%). In the current era, uDCD donors represent a significant potential source of unused organs. Efforts to address barriers to uDCD in the United States should be encouraged.     

COVID‐19 in Spain: Transplantation in the midst of the pandemic

Spain has been one of the most affected countries by the COVID‐19 outbreak. As of April 28, 2020, the number of confirmed cases is 210 773, including 102 548 patients recovered, more than 10 300 admitted to the ICU, and 23 822 deaths, with a global case fatality rate of 11.3%. From the perspective of donation and transplantation, the Spanish system first focused on safety issues, providing recommendations for donor evaluation and testing, and to rule out SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in potential recipients prior to transplantation. Since the country entered into an epidemiological scenario of sustained community transmission and saturation of intensive care, developing donation and transplantation procedures has become highly complex. Since the national state of alarm was declared in Spain on March 13, 2020, the mean number of donors has declined from 7.2 to 1.2 per day, and the mean number of transplants from 16.1 to 2.1 per day. Increased mortality on the waiting list may become a collateral damage of this terrible pandemic.     

我国药品GPO发展现状及策略分析

介绍上海、深圳及其他地区药品集团采购（GPO）的发展现状,并将深圳与上海GPO模式进行对比,分析GPO发展及拓展过程中面临与现有政策和政策引导中的困扰和挑战,提出明确GPO在新形势下发展的定位、制定GPO本土化发展的游戏规则、建立规范GPO发展的监管体系等相关政策建议。     

腹主动脉联合门静脉快速灌注法在器官捐献供体肝肾联合获取中的应用

目的总结腹主动脉联合门静脉快速灌注法在器官捐献供体肝肾联合获取中的可行性和安全性。方法回顾性分析2011年9月至2014年6月在佛山市第一人民医院完成的43例中国心脏死亡供体器官捐献肝肾联合获取的临床资料。43例供体中,中国心脏死亡供体分类一类(脑死亡供体)(C-Ⅰ类)15例,中国二类(心脏死亡供体)(C-Ⅱ类)1例,中国三类(脑-心双死亡捐献供体)(C-Ⅲ类)27例。器官灌注采用腹主动脉、门静脉快速插管联合灌注法。结果开腹至腹主动脉插管时间约1.5~2.0 min,43例供体共获得肝脏43个,肾脏86个。C-Ⅰ类供体热缺血时间全部为0,其余供体热缺血时间范围为3~21 min,平均10 min。2例供肝分别因肝门部严重损伤和重度脂肪肝弃用,18例供肾分别因肾结石、肾萎缩、术前血清肌酐水平较高、肾动脉粥样硬化严重、肾微小血管血栓、多发肾囊肿、外伤性肾破裂等原因弃用,供体器官总弃用率为16%。结论腹主动脉联合门静脉快速灌注法是器官捐献供体肝肾联合获取的简单、安全的方法。     

关于规范器官获取组织流程的思考

近年来,中国的器官移植事业发展较快,但由于缺乏系统规范的管理体系,衍生出了一系列社会、伦理、法律等方面的问题。通过分析我国器官捐献与获取现状以及所存在的问题,提示应采取及时发现潜在案例、判定生命状态、规范报批捐献手续、维护脏器功能、获取捐献器官、安抚供者家属、分配捐献器官等一系列措施来完善器官获取组织流程,以推进我国器官移植事业的健康长久发展。