The presence of a local lung transplant center increases lung procurement rates.
BACKGROUND
The availability of cadaveric organs is the major problem in transplantation today.


METHODS
A retrospective review of donors in a single organ procurement organization (OPO) was performed. Donors were divided into three eras: before, during, and after the presence of a local lung transplant program. Lung procurement rates by OPO in the United States in 1999 and 2000 were also retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Lung transplant rates were higher in the presence of a local lung program: 4.9% at baseline, 19.1% with a local program, and 7.1% after closure of the local lung program (P<0.01). In the United States, 12.4% of lungs available in OPOs with local lung programs are transplanted, versus 8.9% in OPOs without a local program (P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Even if donor management protocols are maintained, closure of a local lung program decreases lung recovery rates. This observation supports the importance of maintaining local programs to maximize organ recovery rates.
McVicar
John P
JP
Department of Surgery, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Albertson
Timothy E
TE
Troppmann
Christoph
C
Kappes
Janet
J
Perez
Richard V
RV
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000458:organization & administration; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System