Successfully sharing the sandbox: A perspective on combined DCD liver and heart donor procurement

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) heart transplantation is currently being performed in the United States as part of a clinical trial. As with all donor procurements, effective coordination between all involved teams is vital for successful organ recovery and maximal utilization of donor organs. The current discussion relays a viewpoint on combined DCD liver and heart donor procurement. Key issues highlighted include the vital importance of donor warm ischemia time (DWIT) on outcome for both recipients as well as issues pertaining to DWIT that may arise when performing combined DCD liver and heart donor procurement. This perspective discusses combined DCD liver and heart procurement, highlighting the vital importance of donor warm ischemia time and solutions to potential delays for the abdominal procurement team and inadequate blood collection for the heart team.