Read the full proposal (PDF – 874 K; 1/2018)

Engaging in vascularized composite allograft (VCA) recovery from deceased donors requires a significant amount of planning and development by organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and VCA transplant programs. OPOs currently recovering VCAs have reported as long as a two-year development period for standard operating procedures (SOPs) or protocols and training on the same. To assess the barriers to VCA authorization and recovery, the OPTN/UNOS VCA Committee (Committee) conducted an on-line survey of OPOs in the U.S. The Committee felt barriers identified in this survey likely contribute to low numbers of deceased VCA donors, and further delays in the development of VCA recovery SOPs/protocols at OPOs.

The Committee believes this guidance will address an unmet need for the OPO community. As a result of this proposal, OPOs without experience in VCA recovery will have access to effective practices identified by those OPOs with experience in the field. This guidance also reinforces the concept that OPOs can support VCA transplant programs outside their donation service area (DSA), and potentially even outside their region.

The Committee feels this proposal is in keeping with Goal 1 of the OPTN Strategic Plan. By increasing VCA awareness to OPOs that have not yet recovered VCAs, there will hopefully be an increase in deceased donors screened for VCA donation and VCA recoveries.