AI tool could help many more organ transplants succeed, say scientists

Doctors have developed an artificial intelligence tool that could reduce wasted efforts to transplant organs by 60%.

- Andrew Gregory Health editor

Thousands of patients worldwide are waiting for a potentially lifesaving donor, with more candidates stuck on waiting lists than there are available organs.

Recently, in cases where people have needed a liver transplant, using donors who have died after cardiac arrest has expanded access. However, in about half of these cases, known as donation after circulatory death (DCD), the transplant ends up being cancelled.

That is because the time between the removal of life support and death must not exceed about 30 to 45 minutes. If the donor does not die within the timeframe needed to preserve organ quality, surgeons will often reject the liver because of the increased risk of complications to the recipient.