Abstract: FR-PO0995
Enhancing Donor Recovery and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Efficiency with a Donor Care Unit
Session Information
- Transplantation: Clinical - Pretransplantation, Living Donation, and Policies
November 07, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Transplantation
- 2102 Transplantation: Clinical
Authors
- Farhat, Souha, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
- Ibarra, Sergio H., LifeGift Organ Donation Center, Houston, Texas, United States
- Powley, Nicole, LifeGift Organ Donation Center, Houston, Texas, United States
- Browning, Ivy Kristine, LifeGift Organ Donation Center, Houston, Texas, United States
- Ambroise, Woodlhey C, LifeGift Organ Donation Center, Houston, Texas, United States
- Potter, Thomas B, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
- Meinders, Andrea M., Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
- Al Awadhi, Solaf, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
- Waterman, Amy D., Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
- Axelrod, David, University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Cooper, Matthew, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Becker, Yolanda T, LifeGift Organ Donation Center, Houston, Texas, United States
- Myer, Kevin A., LifeGift Organ Donation Center, Houston, Texas, United States
- Woodside, Kenneth J., Sharing Hope SC, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Background
This study assessed the early impact of a regional Donor Care Unit (DCU) on donor management, ICU resource use, and transplant outcomes.
Methods
This is a retrospective study of 340 adult donors managed by LifeGift (07/2022 - 12/2024) at a tertiary center with an ICU-based DCU. All met neurologic death and UNOS eligibility. Primary outcome was organs transplanted per donor; secondary outcomes included donor management goal (DMG) attainment and ICU time savings. Statistical tests included Chi-squared, Wilcoxon Rank-Sum, and logistic regression.
Results
Organ recovery/transplantation rates were higher among DCU donors. Donors transferred to the DCU had higher DMG attainment (mean 7.00 vs. 5.93; p<0.001), with 69.6% meeting ≥7 DMGs compared to 41.4% of non-DCU donors (p<0.001). DCU transfer resulted in a median ICU time savings of 35.9 hours (p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, DCU transfer independently predicted optimal donor management (aOR 3.56 [1.80–6.24]; p<0.001).
Conclusion
A regional DCU improved DMG achievement, reduced ICU resource utilization, and increased organ recovery rates. These findings support the integration of specialized donor management units to optimize organ donation processes.