On-Table Reanimation of a Pediatric Heart from Donation after Circulatory Death

Cardiac allotransplantation is warranted in children with end-stage heart failure or irreparable congenital heart disease. A dearth of organs for transplantation has contributed to long wait-list times and resultant deaths in this population. Donation after circulatory death (DCD) with normothermic regional perfusion has the potential to increase the donor pool by up to 30%. Ethical concerns have limited adoption of this technique in the United States and abroad. Consequently, a method facilitating ex vivo resuscitation of hearts from deceased donors after circulatory death (i.e., DCD hearts) is needed. We describe an on-table reanimation of a pediatric DCD heart transplanted into a 3-month-old recipient. Adverse events are reported.