The European experience.
This mini-review on European experiences with tackling the problem of organ shortage for transplantation was based on a literature review of predominantly European publications dealing with the issue of organ donation from deceased donors. The authors tried to identify the most significant factors that have demonstrated to impact on donation rates from deceased donors and subsequent transplant successes. These factors include legislative measures (national laws and European Directives), optimization of the donation process, use of expanded criteria donors, innovative preservation and surgical techniques, organizational efforts, and improved allocation algorithms.
Donor Action Foundation, Linden, Belgium.
Leo
L
Roels
Axel
A
Rahmel
D000367:Age Factors; D001926:Brain Death; D002102:Cadaver; D003643:Death; D005060:Europe; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000592:standards; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods; D019724:Presumed Consent; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*