UNOS Sends OPOs Reminder of Rules Following Transplant Error

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which coordinates the nation's organ transplant network, has sent a reminder of its rules to the country's organ procurement organizations (OPOs) as it continues to investigate the death of a girl who received a mismatched heart and lungs.

UNOS sent highlighted copies of the rules to the 60 OPOs, calling their attention to Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) policies that "require organs be allocated only for patients who are included on the official network 'match run.'"

UNOS instructed the OPOs to "ensure that their staff members are thoroughly familiar with the most current information regarding existing network policies and procedures designed to ensure proper allocation of organs." It also asked them to disseminate more detailed information on the use of the UNOS computer system to facilitate running a donor/patient match.

In the case of Jesica Santillian, who died last month at Duke University Medical Center after receiving a heart and lungs that were not of a matching bloodtype, the New England Organ Bank sent the donated organs to her even though she was not on the "match run" of compatible patients in line to receive those organs (see earlier Transplant Week story).

"We're looking at the why and how of this case," UNOS spokesperson Anne Paschke. "They ran the match-run like they were supposed to, but Jesica wasn't on it and she shouldn't have received the organs."

UNOS said its Professional Standards Committee is currently reviewing the mismatched transplant and gathering facts from all parties.

Other Sources:UNOS