The number of heart transplantations performed each year is limited by a shortage of donor organs, and approximately 10% of patients on the waiting list die before a heart becomes available. In this Review, Longnus and colleagues explore the possibility of heart donation after circulatory determination of death (as opposed to after brain death). Before such as strategy can be adopted, problems such as the period of warm ischaemia before procurement, as well as various ethical considerations, must be resolved.
- Sarah L. Longnus
- Veronika Mathys
- Hendrik T. Tevaearai
