The evolution of donation after cardiac death (DCD) lung donation and transplantation in Australia

With an ever increasing waiting list and a waiting list mortality of 20%, the Lung Transplant Service at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne commenced an evaluation of the potential of donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors as an option for increasing the pool of donor lungs available for transplantation. From 2003-05, The Alfred conducted large-animal experiments led by a dedicated team of physicians, surgeons, perfusionists and a DCD project coordinator. The aims were to evaluate the optimal methods of DCD lung preservation, the optimum timing of retrieval of lungs after cardiac death, and to develop clinical protocols on DCD lung donation and transplantation.