Transport of liver procured from a brain dead donor (BDD) to the receiving hospital by chartered private flight (PF) is a costly endeavour. Also the risk of fatality, while travelling with an organ on a PF is estimated to be 1000 times higher than a scheduled commercial flight (CF). Use of CF to transport liver can help to mitigate both the cost and risk associated with this process.

We are the largest trauma center of one of the most populous states of India. From October 2013 to October 2016 a total of 14 livers were procured from BDDs at our center. Three livers were transferred within the same city while 11 were sent to various transplant centers in the National Capital Region, about 300 miles away, using PF in one and CFs in 10 transfers.

A total of 18 CFs are available daily between our city and the National Capital Region. Appropriate Traffic police and airport authorities were intimated timely to help in the smooth transport of organs. The average total transport time from donor hospital departure to arrival at recipient hospital was 178 minutes (Range from 147 to 206 minutes). Total cold ischemia time ranged from 324 minutes to 561 minutes. There was no incidence of primary non function of the transplanted liver. Cost of CFs ranged from 30 USD to 200 USD as compared to cost of about 8000 USD for a PF.

Use of CFs to transport a liver for purpose of transplant is feasible and safe. All livers were transplanted within the safe limits of cold ischemia time. Willingness of traffic and airport officials to cooperate in the transport of organs kept the road and airport transit times low. This is also very economical for most patients in developing countries like India, who cannot afford a PF.

CITATION INFORMATION: Gupta V, Chandra A, Singh M, Gupta V, Kumar S, Joshi P, Sharma P, Hasan H, Srivastava P, Khan M, Arshad Z, Kant R. Using Scheduled Commercial Flights for Transport of Liver for Transplant. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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