Deceased donor uterus retrieval: A novel technique and workflow

Am J Transplant. 2018 Mar;18(3):679-683. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14476. Epub 2017 Sep 23.

Abstract

Uterus transplantation has proven successful when performed with a living donor. Subsequently, interest in the novel field of reproductive transplantation is growing. The procedure is still considered experimental, with fewer than 25 cases performed worldwide, and the techniques of both uterus procurement and transplantation are still developing. We detail a new approach to deceased donor uterus procurement. In contrast to reported techniques and our own initial experience, in which the deceased donor uterus was procured post cross-clamp and after other organs were procured, our approach now is to perform the uterus procurement prior to the procurement of other organs in a multiorgan donor and hence prior to cross-clamp. We describe our practical experience in developing and implementing the logistical workflow for deceased donor uterus procurement in a deceased multiorgan donor setting.

Keywords: clinical research/practice; clinical trial; donors and donation: deceased; organ procurement; organ procurement and allocation; organ transplantation in general; surgical technique; vascularized composite and reconstructive transplantation.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Death
  • Donor Selection / standards*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / surgery
  • Organ Transplantation / methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • Tissue Donors / supply & distribution*
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / instrumentation*
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / methods
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / methods*
  • Uterus / surgery
  • Uterus / transplantation*
  • Workflow*