NRP Recap

As Midwest Transplant Network (MTN) remains committed to working with our hospital partners to improve outcomes for the 100,000+ patients on the national transplant waiting list and to maximize the gifts of each donor hero, we are honored to share with you the impact made by using the Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP) surgical recovery method.

In Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD) donors, NRP recovery increases the likelihood that the heart can be transplanted, significantly decreases delayed kidney graft function from 40% to as little as 12% and increases liver utilization rate to 45% from the previous 20%. As of Oct. 1, 2024, we began partnering with our transplant centers and SpecialtyCare perfusion services to facilitate NRP recoveries for eligible DCD cases in participating hospitals.

Since this time, MTN has facilitated two Thoracic-Abdominal NRP (TANRP) cases and 24 Abdominal NRP (A-NRP) cases. Of these cases two hearts, 10 livers and 34 kidneys were recovered for transplant. On average, the organs were on the modified ECMO circuit used in NRP for one hour and 22 minutes.

Many of these lifesaving gifts would not have been possible without the use of NRP. We are grateful for your partnership in helping to implement this transformative organ recovery method that will undoubtedly save more lives.

If you would like to request additional training on NRP, please reach out to your assigned HSC.