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British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2003, Vol. 91, No. 4 577-579
© 2003 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

Short Communications

Brain stem death and organ donation—11 years on

G. R. Park*,1, M. Wilkins1 and T. Higgins2

1 John Farman Intensive Care Unit and 2 Audit Department, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK

Corresponding author. E-mail: gilbertpark@doctors.org.uk

Background. We studied previously patterns of organ donation in a teaching hospital. Eleven years later we repeated the study to investigate how patterns had changed. We also wanted to see whether non-heart beating donation was being practised in our intensive care units.

Methods. All deaths were prospectively audited to identify potential heart beating and non-heart beating organ donors. The actual organ donors and reasons for not donating were identified.

Results. Overall, there was a significant reduction in the number of potential organ donors in the 11-yr period. This was accompanied by an increase in refusal rates by relatives from 10 to 29%, and a decrease in refusal rates by the coroner from 28 to 11%.

Conclusions. In this hospital the number of potential and actual organ donors has fallen in 11 yr. This is a combination of decreasing numbers of patients becoming brain dead and increased relative refusal rate. It has only been partially offset by a more liberal attitude of the coroner and non-heart beating donors.

Br J Anaesth 2003; 91: 577–9


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