Organ Donation

Commiment to Organ Donation

Dr. Qasim Chaudhry is a highly experienced transplant surgeon specifically trained in the clinical application of modern organ preservation techniques. With over two decades of experience in organ recovery and transplantation, he has remained at the forefront of the field's transition from traditional cold storage to active machine perfusion.

Pioneering Technology: His recent work includes direct collaboration with TransMedics, Inc. to implement the Organ Care System (OCS), enhancing the viability of donor grafts through normothermic perfusion.
Regional Leadership: Dr. Chaudhry is instrumental in advancing the capacity of the Iowa Donor Network and Nebraska Donor Network, supporting complex multiorgan donation processes and increasing the utilization of extended criteria organs across the region.
A Legacy of Care: Having been involved in recoveries for over twenty years, he combines seasoned surgical judgment with a commitment to the "Gift of Life," ensuring that every donated organ has the best possible chance for a successful outcome.

109,018 waiting for a transplant

Organ Donation & Allocation

The transplant waitlist is a dynamic, national database of candidates. When a donor organ becomes available, the UNOS matching system generates a specific list of potential recipients based on blood type, medical urgency (such as MELD or EPTS scores), and geographical proximity.

National Impact (2025): Last year marked a significant milestone in transplantation, with 49,064 organs transplanted nationally. This life-saving work was made possible through the generosity of 16,550 deceased donors and 7,237 living donors.
Evolving Technology: While the donor population has become increasingly complex (higher BMI, older age, and co-morbidities), the utilization of these organs has increased. This is primarily due to advanced preservation methods that assess and "recondition" organs before they are transplanted.

OrganOx metra: Redefining Organ Viability

The OrganOx metra utilizes normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) to maintain the liver in a physiological state, allowing for continuous assessment of function prior to transplantation.

Rescuing "Discarded" Livers (VITTAL Trial): The VITTAL Trial specifically looked at livers that had been rejected by all transplant centers in the UK. By using the OrganOx metra for assessment, 71% of these "discarded" livers were successfully transplanted, achieving a 100% 90-day survival rate.
Superior Preservation (Nasralla Trial): In a landmark Randomized Controlled Trial, NMP was shown to reduce markers of graft injury (aspartate aminotransferase) by 49.4% compared to standard cold storage.
Clinical Significance: This technology doesn't just store organs; it provides a platform for viability testing. Surgeons can now objectively measure bile production, pH levels, and lactate clearance to ensure a liver is safe for transplant, significantly expanding the donor pool.

Transmedics Liver OCS

The PROTECT Trial was a landmark multicenter study that compared Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP) using the TransMedics OCS to standard Static Cold Storage (SCS).

Reduction in EAD (Early Allograft Dysfunction): NMP significantly stabilizes the liver's metabolic state, leading to a much lower incidence of EAD.

Ischemic biliary complications (IBC): By maintaining continuous physiological flow and oxygenation, the OCS protects the delicate biliary tree, resulting in a significant reduction in IBC at both the 6 and 12-month marks.

Extended Criteria Use: The trial demonstrated that this technology is particularly beneficial for DCD (Donation after Circulatory Death) and other high-risk grafts that often do not tolerate cold ischemia well.

Hypothermic Machine Perfusion (HMP)

Hypothermic machine perfusion is the clinical standard for preserving kidneys from deceased donors. By maintaining a continuous flow of chilled, nutrient-rich solution through the vasculature, HMP reduces the incidence of Delayed Graft Function (DGF) compared to traditional cold storage.

LifePort Kidney Transporter (LKT): Developed by Organ Recovery Systems, the LifePort is the most widely utilized HMP system globally, with a proven track record of preserving over 275,000 kidneys.
The Oxygenation Advantage: While HMP has traditionally been non-oxygenated, the introduction of the LKT200X Oxygenation Perfusion Circuit allows for supplemental oxygen delivery.
This is particularly beneficial for high-risk kidneys, as it helps maintain cellular integrity and provides a bridge to the more intensive HOPE (Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion) protocols.

XVIVO's Kidney Assist Transport™ is a portable device that enables hypothermic pulsatile perfusion of donor kidneys with oxygenated solution for up to 24 hours.

Kidney Preservation with Oxygen (HOPE)

Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion (HOPE) represents a significant leap in kidney preservation, particularly for organs from Extended Criteria Donors (ECD) or those with prolonged warm ischemia times. By actively delivering oxygen at low temperatures, we can "pre-condition" the kidney before it is ever transplanted.

ATP Replenishment: Oxygenation allows the mitochondria to continue producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) even while chilled. This ensures the cellular "batteries" are fully charged, enabling the kidney to function immediately upon reperfusion.
Mitigating Reperfusion Injury: HOPE significantly reduces the burst of reactive oxygen species that occurs when blood flow is restored, thereby minimizing Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (IRI) and subsequent inflammatory responses.
The COMPARE Trial Outcomes: Data from the COMPARE Trial demonstrates that oxygenated HMP can improve early renal function and reduce the rate of acute rejection by up to 44% compared to standard, non-oxygenated machine perfusion.
Clinical Significance: This technique is a vital tool for increasing the viability of marginal or high-risk kidneys, effectively turning a "borderline" organ into a high-functioning graft and reducing the patient's time on dialysis post-transplant.

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