Focus on corneas procurement in hospice and coration-style: organs/ tissues procurement in the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: COVID-19 pandemic impacted significantly on the Healthcare system, at any of its branches. Aims: We hypothesized a negative influence of the pandemic on organ and tissue procurement through the whole 2020. Methods: We analysed the data inherently to cornea procured by the Hospice in 2020, comparing them with the previous year;that was eased by the constant procurement monitoring carried on by Regional and Local Transplant Coordination. Furthermore, we extended the look on the procurement activity of the whole Hospital, regarding both DCD and DBD cases. Results: The number of cornea donors procured by the Hospice in 2020 is almost the same of 2019 (44 donors in 2020;46 in 2019), as well as the percentages of opposition between the examined years (41%-38%). Considering the whole Hospital DCD cornea procurement there was a similar trend (87 vs 79 donors). The DCD procurement of 'non corneal' tissues (skin, bone, eyes) even increased in 2020, and this is also due to the beginning of the new eyeball retrieval programme. Focusing then on the DBD, we observed a reduction of the numbers of brain deaths during march: the strict lockdown in Italy played a role. The organ procurement, however, increased in 2020 (34 DBD in 2020;23 in 2019) so that the number of reported, procured, actual and used donors showed a growing trend. Conclusions: During the pandemic, Hospice was a Covid-free department, all patients carried out three Covid-19 rhynopharingeal swab. In addition, all the preventive measures provided for visitors have been put in place. In the Hospital, the Covid-19 pandemic has not compromised the tissue/organ procurement, thanks to an early and careful planning of Hospital paths and the creation of dedicated Covid departments. There was not an increase in the rate of opposition to donation, which showed a positive attitude towards the health systems. Despite the COVID 19 pandemic, 2020 ended with an increase in organ donation and transplantation activity.