J Korean Soc Transplant.  2009 Dec;23(3):252-256. 10.4285/jkstn.2009.23.3.252.

The Organ Donation Rates in the Neurosurgical Field: Preliminary Study in a Single Institute

• Lee SJ
• Park JB
• Lyo IU
• Sim HB
• Song SK
• Kwon SC

• KMID: 1819848
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/jkstn.2009.23.3.252

Abstract

BACKGROUND
In this study, we analyzed the brain death patients and the donation rates in our neurosurgical field and we discuss the factors that may be important for maximizing these rates by review of literatures.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective reviews of 3,016 patients who were admitted into the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU) from January 1, 2003 till December 31, 2008.
RESULTS
A total of 300 deaths in the NICU was recorded. The major cause of death was cerebral lesion (92%, n=276). Among these deaths, the cerebral lesion was caused by hemorrhage (59%, n=176) and trauma (33%, n=100). The number of the medically or clinically suitable organ donors was 58 cases (19% of all deaths). Organ donation was realized in 37 cases (64% of all the potential donors). Among the non-donation cases, 16 cases refused organ donation, corresponding to a refusal rate of 28%. Two cases were not suitable due to infection, one case was not suitable due to early death, and two cases were not suitable due to legal problems.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite that Koreans overwhelmingly support organ donation and transplantation, the actual donation rate remain low. The organ donation rate of our city as 10 PMP was higher than that of whole country last year. As a preliminary study, it will be necessary to analyze the difference of organ donation rate between our city and other cities to identify predictors to affect on donation.

Keyword

Brain death; Organ donation; Organ transplantation; Intensive care unit; Neurosurgery

MeSH Terms

Brain Death
Cause of Death
Disulfiram
Hemorrhage
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Neurosurgery
Organ Transplantation
Retrospective Studies
Tissue and Organ Procurement
Tissue Donors
Transplants
Disulfiram

Figure

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  Fig. 1. The cause of brain death for 300 of 3,016 patients who were admitted into the neurosurgical intensive care unit.

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  Fig. 2. The primary etiology of potential organ donors (n=58).

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  Fig. 3. The number of potential donors and the actual organ donors.

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  Fig. 4. The reasons for non-donation. The major reason is refusal from the relatives. The other reasons are legal problems and rapid deterioration.

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  Fig. 5. The number of harvested solid organs and corneas (n=139).

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