Adult Medical Emergency Handbook - Scottish Intensive Care Society

ORGAN DONATION
Transplants are one of the most miraculous achievements of modern
medicine, but they depend entirely on the generosity of donors and
their families who are willing to make this life-saving gift to others.
At present the number of people awaiting transplantation greatly
exceeds the number of organs available. It is therefore essential to
maximise the potential number of organs available from the existing
potential donor pool.
Typically donation is from a variety of clinical settings:
Organ donation - is from patients in the intensive care unit following
confirmation of death by brain stem death tests or from
Non-heart Beating Donation - patients are certified dead following
cardio-respiratory arrest within the intensive care unit.
Tissue – can be donated following either the confirmation of death
by brain stem tests or cardio-respiratory death. Tissue does not
deteriorate immediately following cessation of the heartbeat due to
its low metabolic requirements, allowing more time for retrieval and
therefore may be offered in a variety of clinical settings.
All potential donors should be referred to the local donor transplant
coordinator/tissue coordinator as early as possible for consideration
for organ/tissue donation (Department of Health Working Party-Code of
Practice for the Diagnosis of Brain Stem Death 1998). In cases of organ
donation the donor transplant coordinator will be present throughout
the organ donation process.
Donated organs/tissues and the families that donate them are a precious
resource. The lives of hundreds of transplant patients are saved each
year as a result of this gift. It is important that, where appropriate, the
option of donating organs and/or tissue is offered to the next of kin/
person closest in life.
To discuss organ or tissue donation call switchboard at RIE asking for
the transplant coordinator on call.
36 adult medical emergencies handbook | NHS LOTHIAN: UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DIVISION | 2009/11