Abstract

Objective
Lung transplantation is a vital intervention for patients with end-stage lung diseases, but the shortage of organ donors is a significant challenge. This study analyzes lung donor characteristics and evaluates strategies to expand the donor pool in Turkey after the pandemic.
Materials and Methods
Data from 136 cadaveric lung donors offered to our clinic between 2021 and 2023 were examined, with donor characteristics such as age, medical history, cause of death, and laboratory results analyzed. The donors were divided into two groups: accepted and rejected.
Results
This study evaluated 136 out of 959 deceased donors in Turkey, representing 14.1% of all deceased donors between 2021 and 2023. A total of 53 donors were offered to the lung transplant clinic in 2021, 44 in 2022, and 39 in 2023. Among these, 25 donors were accepted, and 111 were rejected for transplantation.
The mean age of the donors was 37.5 years, with the rejected group being significantly older than the accepted group. The most common cause of death was intracranial hemorrhage. Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of PaO₂/FiO₂ ratios, with a higher prevalence of hypertension and smoking history in the rejected group.
Microbial growth was observed in 22.42% of total donors, with a higher rate in the accepted group. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) or transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was used for donor cardiac evaluation.
Conclusion
The decline in donor availability and lung transplants in Turkey highlights the need for expanding donor criteria, including marginal donors. Additionally, increasing public awareness and strengthening healthcare infrastructure are crucial to improving organ donation and transplantation rates in Turkey.

Key words: end-stage lung diseases, lung donor, lung transplantation