The Effect of Donor Transportation on the Function of Donor’s Organs

Background: The impact of donor transportation on the outcome of deceased organ donation remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of donor transportation on the function of the donor’s organs. Methods: From 2016 to 2018, 139 donors of successful deceased organ donation from the local (primary) hospitals transferred to our hospital were included for analysis. Blood samples were drawn immediately after the donor admitted to our hospital (pre-transport data) and before donation (post-transport data) to assess the donor’s organ functions by determining the levels of blood biochemical indexes. Results: The donor with a transport distance >200 km had higher post-transportation AST and a bigger change of TB level as compared with those with a transport distance < 200 km. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between transport distance and post-transport AST. The donors with cardiac arrest history had significantly higher pre-transport AST, pre-transport ALT, post-transport ALT, post-transport BUN, and the change level of BUN after transport as compared with those without cardiac arrest history. The donors with a history of cranial decompression surgery had significantly lower pre-transport AST, pre-transport ALT, and post-transport Cr as compared with those without a history of cranial decompression surgery. Conclusion: These results suggested that long-distance donor transportation may result in organ function deterioration, especially for donors with a cardiac arrest history. Donors with a history of intracranial decompression surgery can alleviate this problem.