[Procurement of organ donors--initial results of the Berlin-Potsdam-Frankfurt model].

Abstract

The shortage of donor kidneys is the main cause of the even insufficient supply of patients suffering from end stage renal disease. In 1987 a transplant coordinator to the districts Berlin, Frankfurt and Potsdam with 3.1 Mio inhabitants was introduced. The functions of the coordinator and the approach to organ procurement are described in detail. In comparison with 1986 the number of explanted kidneys could doubled in 1988 (68 vs 143). The number of 46.3 explanted kidneys per million inhabitants is comparable with other areas or countries with excellent organ procurement system.