Lung Transplantation with Controlled Donation after Circulatory Death Donors

Purpose: Utilization of donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors has the potential to decrease donor shortage in lung transplantation (LTx). This study reviews the long-term outcome of LTx from DCD donors. Methods: We included all consecutive DCD (Maastricht Category III) and all donations after brain death (DBD) donor lung transplants at our Center performed between January 2012 and February 2017. Data were analyzed comparing the two groups in regard of survival after LTx as primary outcome. Results: Median withdrawal to cardiac arrest time was 17 min (interquartile range [IQR]: 11.5–20.5). Median cardiac arrest to cold perfusion was 32 min (IQR: 24.5–36.5). Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) grade 3 at T72 occurred in three recipients. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) led to death in two cases. In DCD group, there was no 90-day mortality. In DCD, group 1- and 3-year survival rates were 100% and 80%. In DBD group, 1- and 3-year survival rates were 85% and 69% (p = 0.4). Conclusions: Our report confirmed the comparable outcome from DCD donors compared with DBD donors. Utility of DCD donors is a safe option to overcome donor shortage.