Cardiac dysrhythmias during donor care

Organ procurement coordinators must treat various cardiac dysrhythmias (arrhythmias), including rhythm disturbances that may cause or follow a cardiac arrest, in about 15% to 50% of donors. Treatment decisions should be based on the particular dysrhythmia and its effect on donor blood pressure. Medications selected should be effective but short acting. In this article, data available in publications located through a PubMed search are reviewed and specific dysrhythmias that are likely to occur during donor care are described. Treatment recommendations are based on guidelines from the American Heart Association.