Safe heart flush technique during recovery from donors after circulatory death

Background Donation after circulatory death is the donation after cardiac arrest. This technique has been employed and adopted by clinicians to overcome the shortage of available hearts for transplant. Warm ischemia time plays a pivotal role in the survival outcome of the heart recipients. Aim of the study To assess the efficacy of using the Foley catheter to flush the heart during procurement from donation after circulatory death donors. Methods We utilized a 2-WAY Foley catheter to flush the heart during procurement. The catheter was prepared and modified on the back table. Results We were successfully able to flush the heart within 3 minutes from skin incision with a good recipient outcome. Conclusions Using the Foley catheter to flush the heart during recovery from donation after circulatory death donors was both efficient and fast.

Automated summary

This study assessed the efficacy of using a Foley catheter to flush the heart in donation after circulatory death donors, demonstrating that this method was efficient and fast.