How Stopped Hearts Are Revolutionizing U.S. Organ Transplants

Organ transplants in the U.S. are changing rapidly, with more donations now coming from patients whose hearts have stopped. This method, called donation after circulatory death (DCD), accounted for nearly half of all deceased donors in 2021. Meanwhile, over 100,000 people remain on waiting lists, and thousands die each year before receiving an organ.

For decades, most organ donations came from brain-dead patients kept on ventilators until retrieval. But in 2021, DCD made up 49% of deceased donations, rising from just 2% in 2000. This shift happened as families chose to withdraw life support for patients with nonsurvivable injuries. After the heart stops, doctors wait five minutes before retrieving organs.

The growth of DCD has not been even across the country. Some organ donation agencies reported over half their donors came from circulatory death, while others saw far fewer. Experts suggest better hospital training and public awareness could help increase these numbers.

New technology has also played a role by preserving organs as circulation slows. Yet concerns remain after rare cases where potential donors showed unexpected signs of life. In response, specialists are now developing stricter safeguards to ensure public trust in the system.

Last year, nearly 50,000 transplants were performed, but demand still far outstrips supply. With more than 100,000 people waiting, improving DCD processes could help close the gap.

The rise of DCD has reshaped organ donation, offering hope to thousands on waiting lists. Stricter policies and better education may further increase donations. For now, the system continues to rely on both brain-dead and circulatory-death donors to save lives.