OPO Encyclopedia

Trends in Organ Donation Following Circulatory Death in the United States

New analysis documents the rapid growth of donation after circulatory death (DCD) in the United States. DCD now accounts for a growing share of all organ donors, driven by expanded protocols for DCD heart and lung recovery. For OPOs, the DCD trend means evolving surgical coordination requirements and the need for updated training on withdrawal-to-procurement timelines.