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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Deceased organ donation activity and efficiency in Switzerland between 2008 and 2017: achievements and future challenges

Authors: Julius Weiss, Andreas Elmer, Markus Béchir, Christian Brunner, Philippe Eckert, Susann Endermann, Renato Lenherr, Mathias Nebiker, Kai Tisljar, Christoph Haberthür, Franz F. Immer, on behalf of the Comité National du Don d’Organes (CNDO)

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Various actions have been taken during the last decade to increase the number of organs from deceased donors available for transplantation in Switzerland. This study provides an overview on key figures of the Swiss deceased organ donation and transplant activity between 2008 and 2017. In addition, it puts the evolution of the Swiss donation program’s efficiency in relation to the situation in the neighboring countries.

Methods

This study is an analysis of prospective registry data, covering the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2017. It includes all actual deceased organ donors (ADD) in Switzerland. Donor data were extracted from the Swiss Organ Allocation System. The “donor conversion index” (DCI) methodology and data was used for the comparison of donation program efficiency in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy and France.

Results

During the study period there were 1116 ADD in Switzerland. The number of ADD per year increased from 91 in 2008 to 145 in 2017 (+ 59%). The reintroduction of the donation after cardiocirculatory death (DCD) program in 2011 resulted in the growth of annual percentages of DCD donors, reaching a maximum of 27% in 2017. The total number of organs transplanted from ADD was 3763 (3.4 ± 1.5 transplants per donor on average). Of these, 48% were kidneys (n = 1814), 24% livers (n = 903), 12% lungs (n = 445), 9% hearts (n = 352) and 7% pancreata or pancreatic islets (n = 249). The donation program efficiency assessment showed an increase of the Swiss DCI from 1.6% in 2008 to 2.7% in 2017 (+ 69%). The most prominent efficiency growth was observed between 2012 and 2017. Even though Swiss donation efficiency increased during the study period, it remained below the DCI of the French and Austrian donation programs.

Conclusion

Swiss donation activity and efficiency grew during the last decade. The increased donation efficiency suggests that measures implemented so far were effective. The lower efficiency of the Swiss donation program, compared to the French and Austrian programs, may likely be explained by the lower consent rate in Switzerland. This issue should be addressed in order to achieve the goal of more organs available for transplantation.
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Metadata
Title
Deceased organ donation activity and efficiency in Switzerland between 2008 and 2017: achievements and future challenges
Authors
Julius Weiss
Andreas Elmer
Markus Béchir
Christian Brunner
Philippe Eckert
Susann Endermann
Renato Lenherr
Mathias Nebiker
Kai Tisljar
Christoph Haberthür
Franz F. Immer
on behalf of the Comité National du Don d’Organes (CNDO)
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3691-8

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