The Current Landscape of Donation After Circulatory Death Heart Transplantation—Where Do We Stand?

The growing disparity between the demand for donor hearts and their availability has reignited interest in donation after circulatory death (DCD) heart transplantation. Historically, DCD heart transplantation has been overshadowed by donation after brain death (DBD) due to ethical and preservation challenges. However, recent advancements in procurement techniques allow for evaluation of the donor heart and enable the broader utilization of DCD donors. While challenges remain, early outcomes suggest comparable survival rates between DCD and DBD heart transplantation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the historical evolution, current practices, and future directions of DCD heart transplantation. Here, we emphasize its potential to expand the heart donor pool and alleviate the organ shortage crisis.