Introduction: Organ transplantation is the best existing method for the treatment of end-stage organ failure. However, the need for viable organ supply limits its progress; thus, we studied the algorithm of process for deceased heart beating donors with the rate of adapting the critical pathways of organ donation from possible to potential to eligible to consent and to actual deceased donors (DD) in the kingdom.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study comparing the nationwide figures and composition of the Critical Pathway of DD cases in a decade from 2001-2005 vs. 2006-2010 to Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT).

Results: The Study showed a remarkable increase in the total number of Possible Deceased Donor cases from 1827 of 2001-2005 to 2651 (+45%) of 2006-2010. The mean possible case per year in relation to the number of population for the first half of the decade is 16 PMP as compared to 22 PMP in the last 5 years of the decade. The rate of conversion from possible to potential is 63% (1151 and 1674 respectively). Moreover, Eligible Donors ascends its number from 956 to 1336 (+39%) of which 270 (28% with 2.2 PMP) and 511 (38% with 4.1PMP) respectively were consented for organ donation. The Actual DD for the year 2001-2005 was 248 and 453 for the year 2006-2010. As a result, the number of Utilized DD organs increased from 244 to 441(+81%) cases.

Conclusions: There is a notable increase in the number of Possible DD reported and consented in the second half of the decade. There is also a significant increase in the Actual DD. In relation to this, the various strategies being implemented to promote organ donation in every region of the kingdom are relatively effective in applying the critical pathways of deceased organ donation.