Implementing of active brain-dead donor identification strategy in a single donor center: one year experience

Abstract

Background and objectives: Organ shortage is considered to be a major limitation for increasing transplantation rates. Brain-dead donors (DBDs) are an important source of organs, but up to 50% of potential DBDs might not be identified. An active brain-dead donor search could potentially increase a deceased donor pool. The aim of this study was to evaluate the e ectiveness of an active potential DBD identification program and to evaluate one year impact on the potential organ donor pool in Lithuania‘s biggest medical institution. Materials and Methods: An organ donor coordinator service was established and active DBD search strategy was implemented in the hospital of LSMU Kauno Klinikos, and retrospective data analysis was performed between December 2016 and December 2017. Collected data was compared to the available data of the previous year in the same center and to the donation dynamics of the whole country. Results: A total of 6734 patients were treated in all intensive care units (ICU), and 234 (3.5%) of them were identified as possible donors. No increase in potential donor’s number was observed in study year (n = 34) compared to remote year (n = 37). No significant di erence in potential donor’s demographic data, cause of death, family refusals and medical contraindication rates. Cerebral angiography (CA) repeated in 20% of potential donors in order to confirm brain death diagnosis. [...].