Thoracic Organ Procurement

Abstract

Background: After external and internal organ cooling and preservation, the first thoracic organs are procured. During lung retrieval, the anaesthetist must be present in the OR. Procured organs are packed according to the international or national rules and put on ice in special transport boxes. To safeguard the organ recipient, at the end of the procedure, even if only one of the organs has been retrieved from the thorax cavity, the abdominal surgeon must inspect the rest of the organ including the thoracic wall for signs of cancer or other risk-increasing complications or disease.

Conclusion: Because of short ischemia time, the thoracic organs have to be well preserved, quickly procured and transplanted as quickly as possible. The abdominal surgeon must inspect the remaining organs (after thorax and abdominal organ procurement) including the thorax wall for signs of cancer.