Analysis of outcomes and reasons for refusing organs offered by the National Transplant Center

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed 22,824 organ offers made to Brazil's National Transplant Center. Of these, 37% were accepted and 63% were refused. Among the accepted organs, 76% were transplanted. Understanding reasons for refusal may help improve national organ use and guide the developmentof effective strategies. BACKGROUND: Logistical factors were not responsible for most organ rejections in the single national waiting list. BACKGROUND: Refusal information was operator dependent, as the reason for refusal was generic in most cases. BACKGROUND: It is possible to increase the use of organs offered to the National Transplant Center by converting more offers into transplants performed through a more detailed study of the reasons for refusal. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcomes and reasons for the refusal of organs offered on a single national list managed by the National Transplant Center. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted with a quantitative approach, using data from offers of organs not used in the states and the Federal District, but offered to the National Transplant Center for national distribution. RESULTS: Of the 22,824 offers of unused organs in the states to the National Transplant Center, 8,483 (37%) were accepted and 14,341 (63%) refused. Of the accepted organs, 6,433 (76%) were implanted and 2,050 (24%) were not used. CONCLUSION: The use of organs at the interstate (national) level could be improved, and ascertaining the reasons for refusal could contribute to intervention strategies.