Abstract

BOOKHOLANE, H; DU TOIT, T; MULLER, E  and  THOMSON, D. Organ transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic - impact on deceased organ donor referrals and consent rates in the Western Cape, South Africa. S. Afr. j. surg. [online]. 2022, vol.60, n.1, pp.55-58. ISSN 2078-5151.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2078-5151/2022/v60n1a3694.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transplantation is multifactorial. This study reports on its influence on deceased donation for transplantation in the Western CapeMETHODS: The volume of referrals and those who were consented for organ donation in the province in the pre-pandemic period of May 2017 to February 2020 were compared to those of the initial pandemic period (March through December 2020RESULTS: Prior to the pandemic, there were 201 deceased donor referrals in the Western Cape province - 152 (75.6%) and 49 (24.4%) in public and private sectors, respectively. The mean referral rates ranged between 59-69 referrals per year, translating into a monthly rate of 4.8 (range 2.8-5.8). During the first 10 months of the pandemic, there were 18 referrals -12 (66.7%) and six (33.3%) in the public and private sectors; a decrease of 63%, with a mean monthly referral rate of 1.8. The overall consent rate prior to the pandemic in the public and private sectors was 36.6% (38% and 27%, respectively) with an increase to 44.4% (37.5% and 62.5%) during the pandemicCONCLUSION: Despite a 10% increase in consent rate for deceased donation during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant decrease in the number of potential donors referred. Strategies to improve organ donation and transplantation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic are required

Keywords : transplant; organ donation; COVID-19.

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