Comparison of modified and standard harvesting technique on deceaced donors

Background: Traditionally, sternotomy and laparotomy are performed torecover thoracoabdominal organs from deceased donors; however, recoveringabdominal organs without sternotomy is possible. We evaluated and compared organrecovery from deceased donors, with and without sternotomy.Methods: Between February 2006 and November 2011, organ recovery wasperformed in 68 deceased donors by our transplantation team. The recovery procedurewas carried out using standard techniques in 31 donors (with sternotomy; Group A) andwith modified techniques in 37 donor (without sternotomy; Group B). Average age, sex,body mass index (BMI), and time to cold ischemia were compared retrospectively inboth groups. The demographic and clinical parameters were compared using a Student?st-test and Chi-squared test. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: Organ recovery was performed on 31 of 68 (45.6%) deceased donorswith sternotomy (Group A) and 37 of 68 (54.4%) without sternotomy (Group B).Thirty-six donors were male and 32 were female. The average age donor was 40.4 ±3.4 years in Group A and 52.4 ± 4.6 years in Group B (p < 0.02). The average BMI ofdonors was 26.2 ± 0.8 kg/m2 in Group A and 23.9 ± 0.8 kg/m2 in Group B. The averagetime to cold ischemia was 127 ± 6.2 minutes in Group A and 47.5 ± 1.8 minutes inGroup B (p < 0.0001).Conclusion: The transition time to cold ischemia can be shortened by harvestingorgans without sternotomy in unstable donors, or under conditions in whichintrathoracic organs are not recovered.