Donation after circulatory death (DCD): the need to implement a program in Slovakia

Czech version

Authors: M. Výbošťok ; D. Žilinčanová ; Ľ. Skladaný
Authors‘ workplace: II. Interná klinika a HEGITO (Hepatologické, gastroenterologické a transplantačné oddelenie), SZU a FNsP F. D. Roosevelta Banská Bystrica
Published in: Gastroent Hepatol 2026; 80(2): 104-110
Category: Hepatology: Rewiev Article
doi: https://doi.org/10.48095/ccgh2026104

Overview

The shortage of donor organs represents one of the major limiting factors in liver transplantation and significantly contributes to mortality among patients on waiting lists. Donation after circulatory death (DCD) has become an established component of transplantation programs in many European countries over the past decades, representing an important opportunity to expand the donor pool. Historically, liver transplantation from DCD donors has been associated with a higher risk of ischemia –⁠ reperfusion injury and biliary complications. However, the introduction of modern machine perfusion techniques –⁠ particularly normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) and ex vivo machine perfusion (HOPE, NMP) –⁠ has significantly improved clinical outcomes and enabled graft survival comparable to transplantation from donors after brain death. Implementation of a DCD program could therefore substantially expand the donor pool in Slovakia, increase transplantation activity, and contribute to reducing mortality among patients on the waiting list.

Keywords:

donation after circulatory death (DCD) – machine perfusion – donor pool expansion – liver transplantation

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