The non-heart-beating donor: Bridging the gap to the future

Renal grafts from NHBDs result in long-term function that does not compromise current clinical standards and therefore make the NHBD a viable way to expand the donor pool. Several programs around the world are beginning to use NHBD livers in clinical transplantation; thus, there is certain to be a surge of reports appearing in the literature in the near future. It appears from available data to date that NHBD livers retrieved in a controlled fashion from category 3 donors may offer a safe source for more organs. Further research and clinical experience with NHBD transplantation for both kidney and liver should help define reproducible and acceptable methods. However, until an alternative source of organs becomes available, the NHBD represents an increasingly important means to alleviate the growing demand for transplant organs.