Successful Heart and Renal Allograft Transplantation From Patients With Child-Pugh Class C Cirrhosis.
Patricia Mester, Stephan Schmid, Martina Müller et al.
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Case in brief
This report details a successful heart and renal transplantation from a brain-dead donor with Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis and hepatorenal syndrome. The transplantation challenges conventional donor eligibility criteria, demonstrating that organs from such donors can be viable for transplantation. The outcomes suggest potential for expanding the donor pool amidst ongoing organ shortages.
What made this case unusual
The case is notable for being the first documented heart transplantation and one of the few successful renal transplantations from a donor with advanced cirrhosis, which is typically considered a contraindication for organ donation.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider the viability of organs from donors with advanced cirrhosis, as this case suggests that established eligibility criteria may be overly restrictive.
Why it matters
This case highlights the need to reassess donor eligibility criteria, potentially increasing the availability of transplantable organs in the face of critical shortages.