Multimodal Neuromonitoring During Normothermic Regional Perfusion for Organ Donors Determined Dead by circuLatory Criteria Following Withdrawal of Life Sustaining Measures

NCT07423936 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: H24-00788
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to demonstrate that cerebral blood flow and brain function do not resume after death declaration in organ donors who undergo normothermic regional perfusion to restore organ function following death determination by circulatory criteria, when appropriate safeguards are applied. To assess the absence of cerebral perfusion and function, investigators will use continuous and comprehensive multimodal neuromonitoring throughout the withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies, the dying process and the NRP procedure.

Conditions

Organ Preservation; Brain Reperfusion or Regain of Brain Function During Normothermic Regional Perfusion

Keywords

Normothermic regional perfusion; donation after cardiac death; organ donation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Aim 1: Assessment of brain reanimation (restoration of brain circulation and/or function)

  To determine the presence or absence of the brain circulation and function during normothermic regional perfusion assessed by intra-parenchymal neuromonitoring, non-invasive neuromonitoring and clinical examination. Reperfusion or regain of brain function during normothermic regional perfusion will be expressed in proportion. Restoration of either cerebral perfusion or neurological function in a patient will be considered a single brain reanimation event. Clinical examination will consist of serial pupillary light reflex assessment and monitoring for respiratory efforts during normothermic regional perfusion. Evidence of brain function will be determined by the presence of rhythmic delta wave activity on electroencephalography, N20 response with somatosensory evoked potentials or presence of brainstem auditory evoked potentials. Restoration of brain circulation will be determined by the presence of cerebral blood flow (\>10mls/100g/min) or brain tissue oxygen tension (\>2mmHg).

  One hour prior to withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies, during the dying duration and for 2 hours during normothermic regional perfusion

• Aim 2: Feasibility of conducting multimodal monitoring

  To assess the feasibility of implementing multimodal neuromonitoring in DCD organ donors undergoing normothermic regional perfusion. This will be a descriptive outcome in which investigators will calculate the duration of available data for each modality and compare it with the total observation period. The investigators hypothesized that feasibility will be strong and that \> 80% data variables will be collected for the pre-specified duration in each case.

  One hour prior to withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies, during the dying duration and for 2 hours during normothermic regional perfusion

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Aim 3: To assess the agreement between invasive and non-invasive neuromonitoring in determining the presence or absence of brain reanimation during normothermic regional perfusion.

  During normothermic regional perfusion

Study Arms (1)

Consented Organ Donors

Consented for organ donation following withdrawal of life-sustaining measures and planned DCD within the next 96 hours.

Other: Neuromonitoring

Interventions

Neuromonitoring OTHER

Neuromonitoring during withdrawal of life sustaining therapies, dying process and during normothermic regional perfusion after death. The neuromonitoring will include: * Invasive intracranial pressure monitoring (Codman) * Bilateral invasive oxygentation monitoring (Licox) * Bilateral invasive blood flow monitoring (Hemedex) * Bilateral invasive EEG monitoring (Nantus) * Cerebral microdialysis * Transcranial doppler (Novosignal) * Jugular bulb oximetry (Edwards) * Surface EEG (Nantus) * Near infrared spectroscopy (Masimo) * Somatosensory and brainstem evoked potentials * Bispectral index (Masimo)

Consented Organ Donors

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Consented eligible organ donors

You may qualify if:

• Age \> 18;
• Planned DCD within the next 96 hours.

You may not qualify if:

• Coagulopathy (International normalized ratio \> 1.5, prothrombin time \> 45 seconds, platelets \< 50);
• Therapeutic anticoagulant medication administration.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of British Columbia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Vancouver General Hospital

Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z1M9, Canada

RECRUITING

Related Publications (16)

• Murphy N, Lingard L, Blackstock L, Ott M, Slessarev M, Basmaji J, Brahmania M, Healey A, Shemie S, Skaro A, Wilson L, Weijer C. Protocol for a qualitative pilot study to explore ethical issues and stakeholder trust in the use of normothermic regional perfusion in organ donation in Canada. BMJ Open. 2022 Sep 29;12(9):e067515. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067515.

  PMID: 36175093 BACKGROUND

• Murphy NB, Weijer C, Slessarev M, Chandler JA, Gofton T. Implications of the updated Canadian Death Determination Guidelines for organ donation interventions that restore circulation after determination of death by circulatory criteria. Can J Anaesth. 2023 Apr;70(4):591-595. doi: 10.1007/s12630-023-02413-6. Epub 2023 May 2. No abstract available.

  PMID: 37131028 BACKGROUND

• Shemie SD, Wilson LC, Hornby L, Basmaji J, Baker AJ, Bensimon CM, Chandler JA, Chasse M, Dawson R, Dhanani S, Mooney OT, Sarti AJ, Simpson C, Teitelbaum J, Torrance S, Boyd JG, Brennan J, Brewster H, Carignan R, Dawe KJ, Doig CJ, Elliott-Pohl K, Gofton TE, Hartwick M, Healey A, Honarmand K, Hornby K, Isac G, Kanji A, Kawchuk J, Klowak JA, Kramer AH, Kromm J, LeBlanc AE, Lee-Ameduri K, Lee LA, Leeies M, Lewis A, Manara A, Matheson S, McKinnon NKA, Murphy N, Briard JN, Pope TM, Sekhon MS, Shanker JJS, Singh G, Singh J, Slessarev M, Soliman K, Sutherland S, Weiss MJ, Shaul RZ, Zuckier LS, Zorko DJ, Rochwerg B. A brain-based definition of death and criteria for its determination after arrest of circulation or neurologic function in Canada: a 2023 clinical practice guideline. Can J Anaesth. 2023 Apr;70(4):483-557. doi: 10.1007/s12630-023-02431-4. Epub 2023 May 2.

  PMID: 37131020 BACKGROUND

• Shapey IM, Summers A, Augustine T, van Dellen D. Systematic review to assess the possibility of return of cerebral and cardiac activity after normothermic regional perfusion for donors after circulatory death. Br J Surg. 2019 Feb;106(3):174-180. doi: 10.1002/bjs.11046. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

  PMID: 30667536 BACKGROUND

• Peled H, Mathews S, Rhodes D, Bernat JL. Normothermic Regional Perfusion Requires Careful Ethical Analysis Before Adoption Into Donation After Circulatory Determination of Death. Crit Care Med. 2022 Nov 1;50(11):1644-1648. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005632. Epub 2022 Oct 13. No abstract available.

  PMID: 36227032 BACKGROUND

• Manara A, Shemie SD, Large S, Healey A, Baker A, Badiwala M, Berman M, Butler AJ, Chaudhury P, Dark J, Forsythe J, Freed DH, Gardiner D, Harvey D, Hornby L, MacLean J, Messer S, Oniscu GC, Simpson C, Teitelbaum J, Torrance S, Wilson LC, Watson CJE. Maintaining the permanence principle for death during in situ normothermic regional perfusion for donation after circulatory death organ recovery: A United Kingdom and Canadian proposal. Am J Transplant. 2020 Aug;20(8):2017-2025. doi: 10.1111/ajt.15775. Epub 2020 Jan 27.

  PMID: 31922653 BACKGROUND

• van de Leemkolk FEM, Schurink IJ, Dekkers OM, Oniscu GC, Alwayn IPJ, Ploeg RJ, de Jonge J, Huurman VAL. Abdominal Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Donation After Circulatory Death: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal. Transplantation. 2020 Sep;104(9):1776-1791. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000003345.

  PMID: 32541563 BACKGROUND

• Shapey IM, Muiesan P. Regional perfusion by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation of abdominal organs from donors after circulatory death: a systematic review. Liver Transpl. 2013 Dec;19(12):1292-303. doi: 10.1002/lt.23771.

  PMID: 24136827 BACKGROUND

• Hessheimer AJ, de la Rosa G, Gastaca M, Ruiz P, Otero A, Gomez M, Alconchel F, Ramirez P, Bosca A, Lopez-Andujar R, Atutxa L, Royo-Villanova M, Sanchez B, Santoyo J, Marin LM, Gomez-Bravo MA, Mosteiro F, Villegas Herrera MT, Villar Del Moral J, Gonzalez-Abos C, Vidal B, Lopez-Dominguez J, Llado L, Roldan J, Justo I, Jimenez C, Lopez-Monclus J, Sanchez-Turrion V, Rodriguez-Laiz G, Velasco Sanchez E, Lopez-Baena JA, Caralt M, Charco R, Tome S, Varo E, Marti-Cruchaga P, Rotellar F, Varona MA, Barrera M, Rodriguez-Sanjuan JC, Briceno J, Lopez D, Blanco G, Nuno J, Pacheco D, Coll E, Dominguez-Gil B, Fondevila C. Abdominal normothermic regional perfusion in controlled donation after circulatory determination of death liver transplantation: Outcomes and risk factors for graft loss. Am J Transplant. 2022 Apr;22(4):1169-1181. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16899. Epub 2021 Dec 21.

  PMID: 34856070 BACKGROUND

• Basmaji J, Weijer C, Skaro A, Healey A, Shemie SD, Slessarev M. Paving the Road for the Adoption of Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Canada. Crit Care Explor. 2021 Oct 28;3(11):e0553. doi: 10.1097/CCE.0000000000000553. eCollection 2021 Nov.

  PMID: 34729491 BACKGROUND

• Ivanics T, Shwaartz C, Claasen MPAW, Patel MS, Yoon P, Raschzok N, Wallace D, Muaddi H, Murillo Perez CF, Hansen BE, Selzner N, Sapisochin G. Trends in indications and outcomes of liver transplantation in Canada: A multicenter retrospective study. Transpl Int. 2021 Aug;34(8):1444-1454. doi: 10.1111/tri.13903. Epub 2021 Jul 7.

  PMID: 33977568 BACKGROUND

• Schaapherder A, Wijermars LGM, de Vries DK, de Vries APJ, Bemelman FJ, van de Wetering J, van Zuilen AD, Christiaans MHL, Hilbrands LH, Baas MC, Nurmohamed AS, Berger SP, Alwayn IP, Bastiaannet E, Lindeman JHN. Equivalent Long-term Transplantation Outcomes for Kidneys Donated After Brain Death and Cardiac Death: Conclusions From a Nationwide Evaluation. EClinicalMedicine. 2018 Oct 9;4-5:25-31. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2018.09.007. eCollection 2018 Oct-Nov.

  PMID: 31193600 BACKGROUND

• Bleszynski MS, Parmentier C, Torres-Hernandez A, Ray S, Yousuf A, Norgate A, Schiff J, Shwaartz C, Sapisochin G, McGilvray I, Selzner M, Reichman TW. Pancreas transplantation with grafts obtained from donation after cardiac death or donation after brain death results in comparable outcomes. Front Transplant. 2023 Aug 9;2:1176398. doi: 10.3389/frtra.2023.1176398. eCollection 2023.

  PMID: 38993888 BACKGROUND

• Palleschi A, Rosso L, Musso V, Rimessi A, Bonitta G, Nosotti M. Lung transplantation from donation after controlled cardiocirculatory death. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Transplant Rev (Orlando). 2020 Jan;34(1):100513. doi: 10.1016/j.trre.2019.100513. Epub 2019 Oct 18.

  PMID: 31718887 BACKGROUND

• Haque OJ, Roth EM, Fleishman A, Eckhoff DE, Khwaja K. Long-Term Outcomes of Early Experience in Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Transplantation: Outcomes at 10 Years. Ann Transplant. 2021 Apr 20;26:e930243. doi: 10.12659/AOT.930243.

  PMID: 33875633 BACKGROUND

• Tang JX, Na N, Li JJ, Fan L, Weng RH, Jiang N. Outcomes of Controlled Donation After Cardiac Death Compared With Donation After Brain Death in Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Transplant Proc. 2018 Jan-Feb;50(1):33-41. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2017.11.034.

  PMID: 29407328 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Summary statistics on organ transplants, wait-lists and donors. 2022.
• Organ Transplants in Canada: Donations and need. 2022.

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITHOUT DNA

Microdialysis Plasma/ serum to assess for brain biomarkers

Central Study Contacts

Rebecca Grey Clinical Research Coordinator

CONTACT

604-875-4111; cerebri.research@ubc.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator and clinical professor, MD, PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2026
• First Posted: February 20, 2026
• Study Start: February 24, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2028
• Last Updated: February 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-02

Locations

CA (1)