Left ventricular dysfunction in potential heart donors and its influence on recipient outcomes

New onset of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in organ donors is frequent and considered as a contraindication for utilization of the heart. However, such dysfunction might be caused by sympathetic stress and could be transient (Takotsubo syndrome). In this study, we assessed the incidence, pattern, and predictors of LV dysfunction in potential heart donors and evaluated its influence on recipient outcomes. Donor records of consecutive organ donors in western Sweden between 2006 and 2016 were reviewed. Recipients of transplanted donor hearts were identified in the Scandiatransplant database. Of 641 potential heart donors who underwent echocardiographic assessment, LV dysfunction (ejection fraction