Rapid flush technique for donor hepatectomy: safety and efficacy of an improved method of liver recovery for transplantation

This report describes a 2-year retrospective review of 437 donor hepatectomies comparing our experience with both the conventional and rapid flush techniques. In this retrospective review we have compared this new rapid technique to that of the conventional. The population of donors comprising the two groups were not significantly different, although there was a trend to use slightly more compromised donors when the rapid technique was used. Despite this trend, overall graft function, as assessed by peak flush group. Finally, the rate of primary nonfunction of hepatic grafts was reduced by the use of this new technique. In summary, the rapid flush technique yields high quality organs, is well accepted by the transplant community, and has become the procedure of choice for organ procurement.