US Transplant Centers Increased Use of DCD Heart Donors

Transplants from donors after circulatory death rose between 2019 and 2024 with stable clinical outcomes.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Heart Disease

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a stylized stainless steel organ transport case, representing medical advancements in transplant procedures. — US transplant centers expanded the use of hearts from donors after circulatory death between 2019 and 2024, maintaining stable patient outcomes according to new data. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Transplant centers across the United States expanded the use of hearts from donors after circulatory death (DCD) between 2019 and 2024. A study released in September 2026 confirms that clinical success rates remained consistent despite the significant growth in center participation.

Why it matters

Medical teams adopted DCD heart use to increase the available organ pool in response to persistent shortages. This expansion allows more patients access to life-saving procedures without sacrificing safety or procedural standards.

A study identified 1,489 recipients of DCD hearts, with participating centers growing from 22 to 67. The analysis found no significant differences in 1-year mortality or graft failure between the early 2019-2021 era and the late 2022-2024 era.

The players

UNOS

The United Network for Organ Sharing is the private, non-profit organization that manages the nation's organ transplant system under contract with the federal government.

Journal of Cardiac Failure

This peer-reviewed medical publication disseminates research and clinical advancements related to the field of cardiovascular medicine.

The details

Advances in ex vivo perfusion technology and standardized procurement protocols enabled the rapid adoption of this transplant method. Despite the late-era group having donors who were older and more frequently female, outcomes remained comparable to earlier cohorts.

2019-2021: The initial era of DCD heart transplantations.
2022-2024: The late era of DCD heart transplantations.
September 2026: The publication of these study findings in the Journal of Cardiac Failure.

The Big Picture

This study uses the UNOS organ transplantation registry to track the safety and efficacy of evolving organ procurement protocols. By comparing results against historical standards, researchers confirmed that expanded access to DCD hearts mirrors the stability of traditional practices.

This expansion increases the likelihood that patients awaiting a transplant can receive an organ in a timely manner. The stability of clinical results provides assurance that new procurement methods maintain high standards of patient safety and long-term recovery.

The takeaway

The successful integration of DCD hearts into mainstream practice shows that logistical and technical innovation can help overcome chronic organ shortages. Patients and families can take comfort in the finding that the expansion of these procedures has not resulted in higher mortality or failure rates.