ACOT presentations now available

[Donna Luebke]

The Advisory Committe on Organ Transplantation (ACOT) met August 28 in Rockville, MD.  Speaker presentations are now available for download on the meeting website:

https://www.team-psa.com/acot/summer2012/presentations.asp

There were several presentations on living donation: 

Maureen McBride from UNOS presented the OPTN Strategic Plan. http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/ContentDocuments/OPTN_Strategic_Plan_2012.pdf

Dr. Christie Thomas, Chair of the OPTN Living Donor Committee, presented on donor followup.  There were moans and gasps as he shared information regarding the lack of donor followup.  The only data requested 'is the donor dead or alive' at 6 months, 12, months, and 24 months.  17 programs had not one donor followup which is dramatically portrayed in his PowerPoint slides.  Some programs were 100% compliant.  Majority in the middle.  Donor data submission is a mandatory policy.  The  representative of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons said donors do not want to be followed (and they claim this policy is an unfunded mandate.)  Members of the committee, federal agencies, and the audience disagreed including Dr. John Fung (ACOT committee member and Chief of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.)  He stated that data is necessary for consent.  Of note, Dr. Fung is the only member of the ACOT speaking up about donor safety and the donor deaths (in archived minutes).  A nephrologist representing American Society of Transplant also agreed, we need data. 

Kidney paired donation was presented.  Noted that 12 % of live kidney donors had participated in KPD.  Dr. Ison presented on risks of disease transmission in organs and screening/donor evaluation requirements (still evolving.) Also was discussion on Vascular Composite Allografts which includes face and hand transplants. 

There was an update on HRSA's Division of Transplantation activities.  Expect changes in deceased donor kidney allocation.  New proposal will be posted for public comment again 9/21/2012.  There are proposed changes to deceased donor liver allocation and expected changes regarding allocation to Donation Service Area first (meaning deceased donor organs will be more broadly shared as per the OPTN Final Rule.  Dr. Fung commented that has taken us over 10 years to get here.)

If you are interested, please follow the work of the ACOT.  Learn about its history, its role, its current Member roster, and attend its meetings which are open to the public.  Proceedings are recorded and archived since is a government meeting.  Information on the ACOT and archived past meeting minutes are available at www.organdonor.gov under the legislative tab.