Increasing organ yield through a lung management protocol.

Gift of Life Michigan determined that the largest gap between the number of organ donors and the number of organs transplanted has been in the number of lungs transplanted. The literature was reviewed for lung donor management strategies and other organ procurement organizations were surveyed for existing donor management guidelines to improve lung function. On the basis of pulmonary physiology and the knowledge gained from the literature search, Gift of Life Michigan developed a lung donor management protocol that has been very effective. In 4 years, the number of lungs transplanted has increased from 37 to 135, representing a 265% improvement.