Organ Transplantation Preparations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in organ donation rates and the temporary mandatory closure of transplantation centers. The suspension or restriction of organ transplantation operations during the pandemic has led to adverse situations affecting patients waiting for organs, and complicating the care of recipients. In Turkey, as throughout the world, the allocation of the majority of intensive care beds to COVID-19 patients has caused a significant decrease in the number of cadaver donors. In the light of current information, very little is known about the spread of COVID-19, the biological behavior, pathogenesis, and long-term morbidity. Therefore, organ donors who have tested positive for COVID-19 may cause negative outcomes, not only for the recipient, but also for the transplantation team, the organ supply organization, and the hospital personnel. When all these points are taken into consideration, it is recommended that COVID-19-positive patients should not be organ donors. Nurses working at several stages of the organ transplantation process should be aware of this. When the necessary collaboration with nurses is achieved, the organ transplantation process will be successful. This paper can be considered to shed light on unknown aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to contribute to nursing training.