Increasing the number of potential organ donors with 37%: a pros-pective observational multicenter study on unrecognized potential organ donors outside the intensive care unit

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M. Witjes, A. Kotsopoulos, I. Herold, L. Otterspoor, K. Simons, J. van Vliet, M. Blauw, B. Festen, J. Eijkenboom, B. Post, W.F. Abdo

Chair(s): dr. Marlies Reinders, LUMC & prof. dr. Robert J. Porte

Thursday 10 march 2016

15:50 - 16:00h at Theaterzaal

Categories: Best abstracts

Parallel session: Plenaire sessie XV - Top 4 Best abstracts

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Background: 
Data from the Dutch Transplant Foundation show that potential organ donors are effectively never missed on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, there are a few studies suggesting that there might be unrecognized potential organ donors outside the ICU environment. The aim of this study is to assess how many potential organ donors exist outside the ICU, and identify factors related to non-recognition of these potential organ donors. 

Methods: 
We performed a prospective observational study in 7 hospitals in the Netherlands during a 15 months period in 2013-2014. All hospital deceased patient forms were screened by an in house transplantation coordinator according to the following inclusion criteria: died within 72 hours after hospital admission due to devastating brain injury, aged

Results: 
In total there were 1226 deceased patients aged

Conclusion: 
Non-intubated patients with devastating brain injury outside the ICU are often not recognized as potential donors. Educating emergency and neurology physicians to recognize potential organ donors and collaborating closely with ICUs and organ donation teams could increase the number of potential organ donors with 37%.