The deceased organ donation in Saudi Arabia is one of the most active deceased donation (DD) in the GCC region, overseeing this program is the Saudi Center for Organ Donation (SCOT). Deceased donation was first established in 1984 as the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), and in 1993 its scope has expanded to cover all organ donation and transplant programs in the Kingdom and the center was named the SCOT.
Since its formation, from 1986 to year 2021 a total of 14,622 possible deceased donors were reported (possible DD); 9,132 were documented by neurological brain death criteria (potential DD); 7,685 families were approached for organ donation (eligible DD); 2,567 had consented for organ donation (eligible consented DD); 2,306 an actual operation was done for the purposed of organ transplantation (actual DD); and 2,187 donors had a least 1 organ was transplanted (utilized DD).
;)
Possible Deceased Donors (2021 and Cumulative)
In 2021, 483 possible deceased donors were reported to SCOT. A total of 14,622 possible deceased donors were reported from 1986 to 2021.
Potential Deceased Donors (2021 and Cumulative)
In 2021, 322 deceased donors were documented as brain death by neurological criteria. A total of 9,132 possible donors were brain death has been documents from 1986-2021.
Eligible Deceased Donors (2021 and Cumulative)
In 2021, 274 confirmed brain dead donor’s families were approached for organ donation. A total of 7,685 deceased donor’s family were approached for organ donation from 1986–2021.
Actual Deceased Donors (2021 and Cumulative)
In 2021, there were 105 actual deceased donors (a donor is a donor from whom an operative incision was done; and/or at least one organ was recovered for the purpose of transplantation). A total of 2,306 actual donors were recorded from 1986-2021.
Utilized Deceased Donors (2021 and Cumulative)
In 2021, there were 102 actual deceased donors (a donor from whom at least one organ was transplanted). A total of 2,187 actual donors were recorded from 1986-2021.
The Hospital Contribution in Deceased Organ Donation
The hospital participation on deceased organ donation from reporting a possible deceased, documenting, donor management, and until the organ retrieval of the deceased donor are the most vital part in the success of organ donation. And in 2021, 109 ICUs has contributed in the deceased donation program not only from the 5 regions in the Kingdom but also from other GCC countries (Kuwait and UAE).
Deceased Organ Transplantation
The activity of organ transplantation in the Kingdom were composed of kidney, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and intestine organ transplant in addition to recovered tissues such as the heart for valves, bones and corneas. From 1984 to 2021, there were a total of 5,948 solid organs transplanted and 2,280 tissues recovered.
Deceased Kidney Transplantation
In 2021, 91 kidneys were transplanted from deceased donors. A total of 3,357 deceased kidneys were transplanted from 1984 to 2021.
In 2021, 91 deceased kidneys were transplanted out of which 18 (20%) kidneys were transplanted to pediatric recipients (≤14 years old) and 73 kidneys were transplanted to adults. On kidney criteria: 74 SCD and 17 ECD kidneys were transplanted of which out of 74 SCD kidneys, 19 SCD kidneys were transplanted to pediatric recipients, while 17 ECD kidneys was transplanted to adult.
Deceased Liver Transplantation
In 2021, 56 livers were transplanted from deceased organ donors. A total of 1,252 deceased livers were transplanted from 1990 to 2021.
In 2021, 56 livers were transplanted from 53 deceased donors via 3 split liver transplantation, of the liver transplanted 4 livers were transplanted to pediatric recipient (≤14 years old) and 52 livers were transplanted to adult.
Deceased Heart Transplantation
In the year 2021, 63 hearts were recovered of which 48 hearts were transplanted and 15 hearts were recovered as source of valves inside the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is worth mentioning that a total of 525 hearts has been transplanted from 1986-2020 in addition, 743 hearts were recovered as sources of valves since 1993.
In 2021, 48 hearts were transplanted inside the kingdom with 31 (65%) hearts utilized for adult recipients and 17 (35%) hearts for pediatric recipients with age ≤14 years.
Deceased Lungs Transplantation
In the year 2021, 63 lungs were transplanted from deceased donation inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is worth mentioning that a total of 521 lungs have been transplanted from 1991-2020
In 2021, 32 recipients were transplanted from the 63 lungs, 62 lungs were transplanted as double lung transplant to 31 recipients including 2 pediatric double lung recipient (≤14 year) and 1 single lung transplant was performed.
Deceased Pancreas Transplantation
In the year 2021, 3 pancreases was transplanted inside the kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a total of 85 pancreases transplantation done from 1990-2021. It is worth mentioning that the first pancreas transplantation in the Kingdom was performed in 1990 then followed by kidney-pancreas transplantation in 1991.
In 2021, 3 pancreases was transplant via simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation to 3 adult recipients.
Deceased Intestinal Transplantation
Intestinal or small bowel transplantation program from deceased organ donors was initiated in the Kingdom during the year 2016 and it was first performed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH & RC) Riyadh. The first small bowel was utilized as a multi-visceral organ transplant (transplanted along with liver and pancreas) and to date, a total of 8 intestinal transplantation was performed in the Kingdom and in 2021 no small bowel transplantation was done.
Deceased Bone and Musculoskeletal Recovery
Bone donation program from deceased donors was started in the Kingdom by King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in 2009. In the year 2021, 10 bones and 6 musculoskeletal tissues were recovered inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is worth mentioning that 574 bones and 248 musculoskeletal connective tissues (MSKT) were recovered for the purpose of bone allograft.
Deceased Corneal Donation and Recovery
Corneal tissue donation and transplantation program was established in the kingdom in 1983. Corneal recovery was usually done along with multi-organ retrieval procedure from actual DBD donors. In the year 2021, no cornea was recovered from nine consented corneal donors. To date 715 corneas were recovered from deceased donors inside the kingdom from 1983-2021
