Organ donation and management of the potential organ donor

Solid organ transplant offers the potential of disease-free survival for hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide. Transplantation not only increases life expectancy and improves quality of life, but offers long-term financial savings to health care systems. The clinician's role in early identification and management of potential donors ensures that the maximum benefit can be gained from the gift of donation. A chronic shortfall in transplantable organs has led to broadened inclusion criteria for donors, and a move towards presumed consent models for donation. Protocolized and goal-directed donor management with early involvement of the transplant multidisciplinary team increases both the quality and quantity of grafts successfully donated.