Deceased Cardiac Donor Liver Retrieval

An increasing number of organs are successfully recovered and transplanted from deceased cardiac donors (DCD). This has been possible due to modifications of the retrieval techniques and streamlining of the entire retrieval process. The understanding of DCD pathophysiology and the impact on the function and long-term outcome of the recovered livers has led to novel approaches to organ preservation and recovery. It is widely acknowledged that DCD has the largest potential for expansion of the donor pool, and the development of these new techniques may contribute to these advances. This chapter presents the logistics of the retrieval process specific to the DCD setting and the various surgical approaches. Preservation solutions are discussed and novel advances in DCD organ retrieval are introduced. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd..