The Dallas Donation after Circulatory Death Transplantation Summit: expanding donation after circulatory death procedures through process improvement, broader utilization, and innovation

Despite a significant increase in utilization over the past decade, the number of donation after circulatory death (DCD) organs that are procured and transplanted in the United States (US) remains well below its potential. There is still room for expansion, as utilizing DCD organs to the fullest extent is currently the most viable solution to the persistent mismatch between supply and demand in transplantation. We convened a multidisciplinary transplantation summit to examine various aspects of DCD, with faculty members from around the world with clinical and academic interest in DCD donation and transplantation, including abdominal and cardiothoracic surgeons, organ procurement organization directors, hepatologists, and gastroenterologists. The conference focused on identifying barriers to DCD organ utilization and strategies to overcome these barriers. We divide the barriers to DCD utilization into three mains categories: (I) policy and process variation; (II) logistical and transportation challenges; and (III) higher risk perceptions related to DCD outcomes. For each barrier, we proposed a variety of solutions, providing an overview of the status of DCD donation in the US and suggestions on how to increase the use of DCD. There is a specific focus on ex situ machine perfusion, normothermic regional perfusion, and other opportunities to expand DCD utilization without negatively impacting recipient outcomes.