Liver Transplantation With Grafts From Donors Who Die From Suicide by Hanging: A Matched Cohort Study

Transplantation of Organs From DCD and DBD Donors Who Died After Ligature Asphyxiation

BACKGROUND

The United Kingdom transplant registry data demonstrated similar transplant outcomes for recipients of kidneys from donors who died following ligature asphyxiation and those who received organs from donors dying from other causes. The impact that this donor cause of death has on the outcomes of other solid organ transplant recipients remains uncertain.

METHODS

The United Kingdom transplant registry analysis was undertaken to determine transplant outcomes in recipients of lungs, hearts, livers' and pancreases from donors who died following ligature asphyxiation.

RESULTS

Between January 01, 2003, and December 31, 2016, 2.7% (n = 521) of all potential United Kingdom donors died following ligature asphyxiation (mostly suicide by hanging). Of these, 416 (79.9%; 197 donation after brain stem death and 219 donation after circulatory death [DCD]) donated an organ for transplantation. These donors provided organs for 574 transplants (66 lung transplants, 75 heart transplants, 279 liver transplants, and 154 pancreas transplants). Patient and graft survival were similar for recipients of both donation after brain stem death and DCD hearts, livers, and pancreases from donors who died following ligature asphyxiation. Unadjusted graft and patient survival were significantly worse for recipients of lungs from DCD donors who died following ligature asphyxiation. This detrimental effect persisted after propensity score matching.

CONCLUSIONS

Livers, hearts, and pancreases from donors who die following ligature asphyxiation suffer an additional warm ischemic insult, but this does not negatively impact transplant outcomes. Outcomes for recipients of DCD lungs appear to be significantly worse.

Characteristics of Organ Donors Who Died From Suicide by Hanging in Australia and New Zealand: A Retrospective Study

Background and objective The annual incidence of suicide by hanging in Australia and New Zealand has increased in the past decade, and a significant number of these individuals are becoming organ donors. The rates of organ donation following deaths from hanging is unknown and the characteristics of this cohort of donors have not been described in the literature. In light of this, we aimed to examine the trends in organ donation from individuals who had died from hanging, based on the solid organ donor data from the Australia and New Zealand Organ Donation (ANZOD) Registry. Methods We conducted a retrospective study that analyzed the ANZOD Registry donor data (2006-2015) to describe the characteristics of solid organ donors who had died by hanging (post-hanging group); these characteristics were compared to those of individuals who died by all other causes (non-hanging group). Results During the study period, the number and proportion of donors who died by suicide from hanging increased. Of the 4,024 consented organ donors, 226 had died by hanging and 3,798 had died from other causes. The probability that an individual who died by hanging would become an organ donor increased from 0.5 to 3%. Compared to donors who died by all other causes, post-hanging donors were younger (median age of 30 vs. 50 years), with fewer comorbidities, and a higher incidence of smoking. There was no significant difference in the proportion of those who indicated a prior intent to donate organs between post-hanging (34%) and non-hanging donors (38%). A higher proportion of post-hanging donors donated via the donation after the circulatory death pathway (36.3%) than non-hanging donors (24.2%). Individuals in the post-hanging cohort donated an average of 4.19 organs compared to 3.62 in the non-hanging cohort. Conclusion We believe the findings of this retrospective analysis will help inform clinical decision-making regarding organ donation, including the best approaches to obtaining donation consent. Our findings will help physicians provide care to patients and to families of individuals in this challenging group, where organ donation potential is high. Further investigations are required to determine which aspects of healthcare influence the donation rates in individuals who have died by hanging and the outcomes related to transplanted organs.

Accidental hanging injuries in children: recognition and management

Accidental hanging is rare in childhood but is often fatal. Window blind cords pose a particular and unique risk to young children in the UK, accounting for one to two deaths annually. These accidents are frequently associated with non-adherence to the safety instructions provided by the manufacturers. Early discovery of the child and initiation of effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the site of the incident are likely to improve the outcome. Prolonged suspension, children who are pulseless at first contact by the emergency paramedic responder, and patients with prolonged periods of remaining in asystole before return of spontaneous circulation after starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation are unlikely to have intact neurological survival. Management in the hospital includes early airway protection by intubation, maintenance of normal oxygen saturation, normothermia, active control of clinical and sub-clinical seizures, and strict electrolyte and glucose regulation. Child safeguarding concerns should be considered when children have asphyxial injuries, and other signs of child physical abuse should be actively looked for. There is a need for stronger legislation in the UK to prevent some of these accidents, especially those relating to window blind cords.

Bradley J. Transplantation of kidneys from DCD and DBD donors who died after ligature asphyxiation: The UK experience

There is uncertainty about whether hypoxic injury accompanying donor death from ligature asphyxiation influences renal transplant outcomes, particularly for recipients of kidneys donated after circulatory death (DCD). The UK Registry analysis was undertaken to determine transplant outcomes in recipients of kidneys from donors who died following ligature asphyxiation. From 2003 to 2016, 2.7% (n = 521) of potential organ donors died following ligature asphyxiation (mostly suicide by hanging). Of these, 409 (78.5%) donated kidneys for transplantation (46.9% donation after brain death [DBD] and 53.1% DCD donors) resulting in 650 kidney transplants. Compared to other deceased donors, those dying from ligature asphyxiation were younger, more often male, and had less hypertension. Unadjusted patient and graft survival were superior for recipients of both DBD and DCD kidneys from donors dying after ligature asphyxiation, although after adjustment for donor/recipient variables, transplant outcomes were similar. A case-control matched analysis confirmed transplant outcomes for those who received kidneys from donors dying after ligature asphyxiation were similar to controls. Although caution is required in interpreting these findings because of potential selection bias, kidneys from donors dying of ligature asphyxiation suffer an additional warm ischemic insult that does not apparently adversely influence transplant outcomes, even for kidneys from DCD donors.

Liver Transplantation Using Donation After Brain and Cardiac Death: A Single-Center Experience in China

BACKGROUND

Liver transplantation (LTx) using donation after brain and cardiac death (DBCD) has increased steadily in China. The aims of this study were to evaluate the outcomes of DBCD LTx and to assess its feasibility to expand the donor pool.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of DBCD donors and recipients, survival of allografts and recipients, and prognostic factors in DBCD LTx recipients from March 2010 to December 2014 in our institution.

RESULTS

DBCD LTx (n = 102) were performed in our institution during the research period, and the successful donation rate was 26.0%. Mean warm ischemia time and cold ischemia time were 14.39 minutes and 5.29 hours, respectively. The overall and biliary complication rates were 45.1% and 16.7%, respectively. Donor age (P = .043), intra-operative blood loss (P = .048), and operation time (P = .045) were significantly different between the complication and non-complication groups. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates of patients and grafts were 88.0%, 84.6%, 84.6%, and 85.7%, 78.6%, and 78.6%, respectively. The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates of hepatocellular carcinoma patients were 91.9% and 80.5%, respectively whereas the recurrence-free survival rates were 84.9% and 77.2%, respectively. The patient and graft survival rates were not statistically different between the <55-year and ≥55 year groups, but complication rate was higher in the older group than in the younger group (P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome of DBCD LTx is favorable in our institution, with careful donor and recipient selection and careful peri-operative management. DBCD is an optimized solution for organ shortage in today's China.

SOFA score to assess the severity of the post-cardiac arrest syndrome

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic impact of organ failures at ICU admission after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) according to the SOFA score.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of all adult patients admitted to a 15-bed medical ICU in a university-affiliated hospital after an out-of-hospital CA. In addition to demographic and clinical data, initial illness severity was measured using the SOFA score. Outcomes (mortality and neurological prognosis) were also collected at day 28 and one year.

RESULTS

A total of 304 patients (age: 66±16 years, male: 55%) were admitted for post-CA management. An initial nonshockable cardiac rhythm was recorded in 274 (90%) cases. At admission, SOFA score averaged 9.8±3.1 for the entire cohort (8.1±3.3 for day 28 survivors versus 10.1±3.1 for non-survivors, p<0.001). At day 1, SOFA remained significantly (p<0.001) higher in nonsurvivors (9.8±3.8) when compared to survivors (6.5±4.1). Death occurred in 269 (88%) and 275 (90%) patients within the 28-day and one-year period, respectively. Neurological outcome at one year was favorable (CPC score 1-2) in 23patients (8%). Multivariate analysis identified the SOFA score at admission as independently associated with mortality at day28 (OR per point of SOFA score 1.17; 95% CI 1.01-1.35; p=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, early organ failures, as assessed by the SOFA score at ICU admission, were independently associated with day 28 mortality. SOFA score may help clinicians objectively evaluate the severity of the post-CA syndrome.

Novel 24-h ovine model of brain death to study the profile of the endothelin axis during cardiopulmonary injury

BACKGROUND

Upregulation of the endothelin axis has been observed in pulmonary tissue after brain death, contributing to primary graft dysfunction and ischaemia reperfusion injury. The current study aimed to develop a novel, 24-h, clinically relevant, ovine model of brain death to investigate the profile of the endothelin axis during brain death-associated cardiopulmonary injury. We hypothesised that brain death in sheep would also result in demonstrable injury to other transplantable organs.

METHODS

Twelve merino cross ewes were randomised into two groups. Following induction of general anaesthesia and placement of invasive monitoring, brain death was induced in six animals by inflation of an extradural catheter. All animals were supported in an intensive care unit environment for 24 h. Animal management reflected current human donor management, including administration of vasopressors, inotropes and hormone resuscitation therapy. Activation of the endothelin axis and transplantable organ injury were assessed using ELISA, immunohistochemistry and standard biochemical markers.

RESULTS

All animals were successfully supported for 24 h. ELISA suggested early endothelin-1 and big endothelin-1 release, peaking 1 and 6 h after BD, respectively, but there was no difference at 24 h. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of the endothelin axis in pulmonary tissue. Brain dead animals demonstrated tachycardia and hypertension, followed by haemodynamic collapse, typified by a reduction in systemic vascular resistance to 46 ± 1 % of baseline. Mean pulmonary artery pressure rose to 186 ± 20 % of baseline at induction and remained elevated throughout the protocol, reaching 25 ± 2.2 mmHg at 24 h. Right ventricular stroke work increased 25.9 % above baseline by 24 h. Systemic markers of cardiac and hepatocellular injury were significantly elevated, with no evidence of renal dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel, clinically relevant, ovine model of brain death demonstrated that increased pulmonary artery pressures are observed after brain death. This may contribute to right ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary injury. The development of this model will allow for further investigation of therapeutic strategies to minimise the deleterious effects of brain death on potentially transplantable organs.