Non-heartbeating donors, is it worthwhile?

In view of the shortage of cadaveric organ donors a retrospective study has been performed to determine the results of transplantation of non-heartbeating donor kidneys. Graft and patient survival and renal function in the 60 cases analysed in this study, showed no adverse effect of the use of non-heartbeating donor kidneys. The initial graft function was best after in situ cooling of the kidneys, using an intra-aortic double balloon catheter, followed by machine preservation. It is concluded that nephrectomy of non-heartbeating donors is worthwhile and that these donors should be included in all organ harvesting programmes.