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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
05:03
Brain Death Induction in Mice Using Intra-Arterial Blood Pressure Monitoring and Ventilation via Tracheostomy
Published on: April 17, 2020
Brain stem death and organ donation--11 years on
G R Park1, M Wilkins, T Higgins
1John Farman Intensive Care Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK. gilbertpark@doctors.org.uk
British Journal of Anaesthesia
|September 25, 2003
Summary
Organ donation rates declined over 11 years due to fewer brain deaths and increased family refusals, despite a rise in non-heart-beating organ donation. This study highlights challenges in maintaining organ donor numbers.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Transplantation science
- Public health
Background:
- Previous study on organ donation patterns in a teaching hospital.
- Re-evaluation 11 years later to assess changes in donation practices.
- Investigation into the implementation of non-heart-beating donation in intensive care units.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze shifts in organ donation trends over an 11-year period.
- To determine the prevalence and impact of non-heart-beating donation.
- To identify factors influencing organ donor availability.
Main Methods:
- Prospective audit of all deaths to identify potential organ donors (heart-beating and non-heart-beating).
- Documentation of actual organ donors.
- Recording of reasons for non-donation.
Main Results:
- Significant reduction in potential organ donors over 11 years.
- Increase in relative refusal rates from 10% to 29%.
- Decrease in coroner refusal rates from 28% to 11%.
Conclusions:
- Overall decline in potential and actual organ donors observed.
- Decreasing incidence of brain death and rising family refusal rates are key factors.
- Increased acceptance of non-heart-beating donors and a more liberal coroner attitude partially mitigated the decline.
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