Brain death and postmortem organ donation: Report of a questionnaire from the CENTER-TBI study

Ernest Van Veen, Mathieu Van Der Jagt, Maryse C. Cnossen, Andrew I.R. Maas, Inez D. De Beaufort, David K. Menon, Giuseppe Citerio, Nino Stocchetti, Wim J.R. Rietdijk, Jeroen T.J.M. Van Dijck, Erwin J.O. Kompanje*, Peter Ylén, CENTER-TBI investigators and participants

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    10 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: We aimed to investigate the extent of the agreement on practices around brain death and postmortem organ donation. Methods: Investigators from 67 Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study centers completed several questionnaires (response rate: 99%). Results: Regarding practices around brain death, we found agreement on the clinical evaluation (prerequisites and neurological assessment) for brain death determination (BDD) in 100% of the centers. However, ancillary tests were required for BDD in 64% of the centers. BDD for nondonor patients was deemed mandatory in 18% of the centers before withdrawing life-sustaining measures (LSM). Also, practices around postmortem organ donation varied. Organ donation after circulatory arrest was forbidden in 45% of the centers. When withdrawal of LSM was contemplated, in 67% of centers the patients with a ventricular drain in situ had this removed, either sometimes or all of the time. Conclusions: This study showed both agreement and some regional differences regarding practices around brain death and postmortem organ donation. We hope our results help quantify and understand potential differences, and provide impetus for current dialogs toward further harmonization of practices around brain death and postmortem organ donation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number306
    JournalCritical Care
    Volume22
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 16 Nov 2018
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Funding

    Data used in preparation of this manuscript were obtained in the context of the CENTER-TBI study, a large collaborative project, supported by the Framework 7 program of the European Union (602150). DKM was supported by a Senior Investigator Award from the National Institute for Health Research (UK).

    Keywords

    • Brain death
    • Ethics
    • Postmortem organ donation
    • Traumatic brain injury
    • Ventricular drainage
    • Withdrawing life-sustaining measures
    • Brain Death
    • Europe
    • Humans
    • Tissue and Organ Procurement/legislation & jurisprudence
    • Internationality
    • Brain Injuries, Traumatic/complications
    • Trauma Centers/organization & administration
    • Surveys and Questionnaires

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