Circulating factors, in both donor and ex-situ heart perfusion, correlate with heart recovery in a pig model of DCD

In heart donation after circulatory death, circulating adrenaline levels are valuable for cardiac graft evaluation. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is of particular interest, as it measures multiple metabolites in a short timeframe. Improved biomarkers may allow more precision and therefore better support clinical decisions about transplantation suitability.