title: Liver transplantation from Maastricht category 2 non-heart-beating donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The demand for liver transplantation has increasingly exceeded the supply of cadaver donor organs. Non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) may be an alternative to increase the cadaver donor pool.
  
  
  METHODS
  The outcome of 20 liver transplants from Maastricht category 2 NHBDs is compared with 40 liver transplants from heart-beating donors (HBDs). After unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), cardiopulmonary support (CPS) with simultaneous application of chest and abdominal compression (n=6), and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB; n=14), which was hypothermic (n=7) or normothermic (n=7), were used to preserve the organs from NHBDs. Factors that may influence the outcome of livers from Maastricht category 2 NHBDs were also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a minimum follow-up of 2 years, actuarial patient and graft survivals with livers from Maastricht category 2 NHBDs were 80% and 55%, respectively. Transplantation of organs from these donors was associated with a significantly higher incidence of primary nonfunction, biliary complications, and more severe initial liver dysfunction compared with livers from HBDs. Graft survival was 83% in livers from NHBDs preserved with CPS and 42% in those maintained with CPB. No graft failed if the duration of warm ischemia did not exceed 130 min with CPR or CPS, and if the period of CPB did not surpass 150 min when this method was used after CPR, regardless if it was hypothermic or normothermic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Livers from Maastricht type 2 NHBDs may be used for transplantation if the period of warm ischemia during CPR or CPS does not exceed 130 min. Hypothermic or normothermic CPB after CPR preserves liver viability for an additional 150 min.
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplant Unit, Hospital Juan Canalejo, La Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez-Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arnal
authors.forename: Antón
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-García
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aguirrezabalaga
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Buitrón
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Máñez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006323:Heart Arrest; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011309:Preservation, Biological; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors