Formal policies and special informed consent are associated with higher provider utilization of CDC high-risk donor organs

L. M. Kucirka, R. Namuyinga, C. Hanrahan, R. A. Montgomery, D. L. Segev

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) policy mandates special informed consent (SIC) before transplanting organs from donors classified by the Public Health Service/Center for Disease Control (PHS/CDC) as high-risk donors (HRDs); however, concerns remain that this policy may cause suboptimal organ utilization. Currently, consent and disclosure policy is determined by individual centers or surgeons; as such, little is known about current practices. The goals of this study were to quantify consent and disclosure practices for HRDs in the United States, identify factors associated with SIC use and analyze associations between SIC use and HRD organ utilization. We surveyed 422 transplant surgeons about their use of HRD organs and their associated consent and disclosure practices. In total, 52.7% of surgeons use SIC, but there is a high variation in use within centers, between centers and by donor behavior. A defined HRD policy at a transplant center is strongly associated with SIC use at that center (OR = 4.68, p < 0.001 by multivariate hierarchical logistic regression). SIC use is associated with higher utilization of HRD livers (OR 3.37), and a trend toward higher utilization of HRD kidneys (OR 1.74) and pancreata (OR 1.28). We believe our findings support a formalized national policy and suggest that this policy will not result in decreased utilization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)629-635
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2009

Keywords

  • Deceased donor transplantation
  • HIV
  • High-risk donor
  • Informed consent

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Transplantation
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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