Donation after circulatory death transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes and methods of donation

Background: Heart failure remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality internationally. With significant disparities in supply and demand for donor organs and recipients, there has been a growing need to expand the donor pool. Donation after circulatory death (DCD) heart transplantation offers such a method, with ex-situ machine perfusion (ESMP) and thoracoabdominal normothermic reperfusion (NRP) offering two potential methods of procuring DCD organs. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the current literature and compare DCD with donation after brain death (DBD) as well as DCD methods of transplantation.
Methods: A systematic literature review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Primary outcomes were 30-day, 6- and 12-month survival, as well as primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and acute rejection. Secondary outcomes were length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) LOS and temporary dialysis. Weighted averages were utilised to summarise data with funnel plots utilised for comparisons. Reconstructed Kaplan-Meier curves were utilised to evaluate mid-term survival.
Results: A total of 10 studies were included evaluating 923 DCD recipients and 7,236 DBD recipients. Survival for DCD and DBD patients at 6 months was 93% and 91% respectively [odds ratio (OR), 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0–2.2; P<0.05] and at 12 months 93% and 91% for DCD and DBD respectively (OR, 0.8; 95% CI: 0.1–5.3; P=0.8). Acute rejection was 15% and 19% in DCD and DBD patients respectively (OR, 1.0; 95% CI: 0.6–1.8; P=0.9). Thirty-day survival was similar between NRP (96.9%) and direct procurement and perfusion (DPP) (97%) (OR, 0.8; 95% CI: 0.2–3.9; P=0.8). PGD was higher in DCD (17%) compared with DBD (8%) patients (OR, 1.9; 95% CI: 0.9–3.8; P=0.06) whilst PGD for DPP and NRP was 21% and 14% respectively.
Conclusions: DCD may offer comparable outcomes to DBD in short and mid-term outcomes, although PGD remains a concern. Further comparative research is required to delineate the role of both techniques in the current transplant landscape.