Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine Medknow Publications on behalf of the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine ISSN: 0972-5229 EISSN: 1998-359x Vol. 11, Num. 2, 2007, pp. 49-53

Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, Vol. 11, No. 2, April-June, 2007, pp. 49-53

Research Article

Our experience with deceased organ donor maintenance

Kumar Meena, Shendge Prakash, Kumar Vineet, Trivedi Vatsala, Waghela Jagruti, Rajpal Dilip

Department of Surgery, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai
Correspondence Address:Department of Surgery, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai meenavkumar@rediffmail.com

Code Number: cm07008

Abstract

Keywords: Brain Stem Death (BSD), deceased organ donor, maintenance

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Brain stem dead cases were identified in the ICU of a municipal Level I trauma center over eight years from 1996-2004.

Inclusion criteria

Age 3-65 years,
Patient in ICU in coma,
Known cause for coma,
Patient on ventilator.

Exclusion criteria

Metabolic / endocrine coma,
Long standing hypertension, diabetes mellietus, cardiovascular disease,
Primary hypothermia < 35 °C,
Malignancy.

All patients with GCS 5 and less on admission or had deteriorated to GCS 5 were closely monitored for development of brain stem death after failure of aggressive management to reverse coma. ^[4] Brain stem death was identified clinically using UK code which involved satisfying preconditions like patient in an ICU on a ventilator with known cause of coma. ^[3],[5],[7] All drug induced, metabolic causes of coma were excluded. Brain stem death was confirmed by absent brain stem reflexes and a strict apnoea test. Once brain stem death was confirmed the potential organ donors were screened for fitness to donate organs according to Maharashtra State appropriate authority guidelines. ^[7] Confirmation of brain stem death was done twice within a gap of at least six hours.

All patients had a central line, systolic blood pressure was maintained> 90 mm mercury, CVP 8-12 cm water, urine output maintained between 80-100 ml per hour. IV fluids used were Bolus Colloid, Ringer Lactate, Dextrose Normal Saline. Injection Mannitol which was being used for decreasing cerebral edema was withdrawn once BSD was identified or in case of hypernatraemia. All patients were on ventilator with PaO2 more than 100 mm mercury, PCo2 of 35 mm Hg and pH more than 7.2. ^[3],[7] The deceased donor with unknown identity were maintained hoping close relatives would arrive.

Investigations

CBC, BUN, S.Cr, LFT, blood sugar, blood group, viral markers, urine-routine, microscopy, X-ray chest, ECG, USG abdomen

ABG and serum electrolytes were monitored 8 hourly

Management ^{[5],[6],[8],[9],[10]}

i. IV fluids - previous hours urine output plus 25cc, maintaining CVP, BP, serum sodium less than 150.
ii. Hypotension was managed with Bolus Colloid, Dopamine 3-5 microgms/kg/min, dobutamine 5-10 micrograms/kg/min, adrenaline 1 microgram/kg/min.
iii. Bradycardia / arrhythmia was managed by correction of electrolyte imbalance, acid base imbalance, oxygenation, treatment of hypothermia, inotropes and in a few cases trans venous pacing.
iv. Body temperature was maintained more than 35 degree centigrade with warming blankets, 60W overhead bulb and if necessary warm gastric and rectal washes.
v. Nutrition was maintained with enteral feeds.
vi. Broad-spectrum antibiotics was given as per ICU protocol.
vii. General ICU principles for patient care were followed.
viii. Intense close monitoring of patients were done.
ix. Any cardiac arrest with prolonged hypotension of less than 70 mm Hg for more than 30 min was considered as relative contraindication.
x. Professor (Department of General Surgery) is in-charge of Trauma ICU and manages in co-ordination with anesthesiologists.

The certification of BSD was done by the authorized committee. The transplant team was different from the team managing the ICU. Counseling was done with the help of medical social workers.

The doctors in ICU were trained for early detection and management of BSD donors.

Results

Discussion

Our hospital has a 14-bedded trauma ICU with annual admission of 2800 cases of intensive trauma. 168 cases of brain death were maintained from 1996 - 2004. All GCS 5 and less patients either on admission or deterioration to GCS 5 even after aggressive management were closely observed for development of brain stem death. Early identification of brain stem death can help in tackling hemodyanamic instability at the earliest so that we have optimally functioning donor organs. The sex ratio of potential donor was 7 Males: 1 Female and the average age group was 15-35 years (67%) [Table - 1],[Table - 2]. The common modes of injury were vehicular (37.6%), railways (28.2%), fall (27%) [Table - 3]. This was as per the trauma admission pattern of the hospital. The GCS on admission was between 3-5 (85.8%) [Table - 4]. The predominant CT findings were cerebral edema (47%), contusion (41.8%), SAH (24.7%), SDH (24.7%) [Table - 5]. 55.5% cases were managed nonoperatively and 44.5% cases were operated on admission [Table - 6]. We followed the UK criteria for identification of BSD and potential deceased donors were maintained after screening them for fitness for organ donation. The diagnosis of brain stem death was done within 2 days of admission in 77% of cases, 3 ^rd day in 12% and after 4 days in 11% of cases [Table - 7]. GCS 3 cases on admission were intubated and put on ventilator without any muscle relaxant. All trauma patients with GCS 5-8 were on controlled mode ventilation with Vecuronium as muscle relaxant, which was repeated every 15-20 minutes as they came out of its effect. It was critical to identify the transition from life to brain stem death. Cases not requiring Vecuronium for more than 10-12 hours were suspected and tested for brain stem reflexes. Nerve stimulation studies were not conducted routinely. One of the other early signs a staff nurse could pick up in an ICU was the loss of gag reflex and high urine output. The early detection of brain stem death required an attitudinal change amongst doctors in ICU as one had to switch over to high intensive monitoring of GCS 5 and less cases with extensive head injury who otherwise had poor outcome. Each case was given a minimum of 12 hours of aggressive anti-coma management before BSD declaration. These brain stem dead cases went through swinging changes in hemodyanamics like hypotension 68%, diabetes insipidus 70%, hypothermia 12%, hypokalemia 62% [Table - 8]. Close monitoring and rapid correction of complication was done to minimize fluctuations in tissue perfusion. Dopamine, adrenaline and dobutamine [Table - 9] were the inotropes used.

Brain stem death was identified, screened and certified and consent from next of kin taken. The heart beating deceased donor was then shifted to the operation theatre for organ retrieval. The average time gap between certification and consent varied from few minutes to 24 hours (86.2%). This was due to delay in obtaining consent [Table - 10]. One deceased donor was maintained for 72 hours as close relatives were not available for consent. The pressure on the team maintaining the deceased donors after obtaining consent till organ retrieval is very high. In the early part of our experience, in spite of a positive consent, we lost 4 donors as they arrested before organ retrieval. After the initial setback in case of instability Trans venous pacing was done in six cases especially when there was likelihood of consent for donation. One of the factors on which primary allograft function depends on is a well-maintained donor.

Our hospital being a municipal public hospital mainly looks after people from low socioeconomic strata. Of the 138 potential donors counseled, consent was obtained in 17[12.3%] but organ retrieval was done from 12 donors as four donors arrested before retrieval and one was HbsAg + with no corresponding recipient available in the city. Most of the retrievals were done from four to eight hours after consent. 24 kidneys and one liver were retrieved and successfully transplanted [Table - 11]. The critical condition and prognosis of patients in trauma ICU was explained to the relatives by the senior surgeons in charge. The brain stem death declaration to relatives was also done by the seniors. Once the relatives were convinced about death they were approached for organ donation by the counselor. It was observed that it took some time for the relatives to accept that their young trauma patient was seriously injured and brain dead. They went through phases of shock and anger. Acceptance of brain stem death in a still warm patient was difficult. None of them had heard earlier about organ donation. The poor consent rate is attributed to lack of awareness about organ donation in general, inability to take decision regarding organ donation. Those who gave consent were from educated middle class families, were not aware of organ donation but were willing to donate. Some of these patient's relatives, friends/family members had died of kidney failure. Apathy and hesitancy amongst health care workers and nonavailability of regular counselor in our hospital also contributed to the poor response rate. Maintaining the potential donors in a public hospital is high manpower, resource and cost intensive.

Conclusion

Acknowledgement

References

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