Care of organ donors

In summary, anesthesiologists play a pivotal role in maintaining adequate organ function in the donor. Anesthesiologists are responsible for integrating the needs of all transplant services involved in donor organ retrieval. In addition, anesthesiologists can play critical roles in expediting preparation of the patient for surgery, and they can lend emotional support to operating room personnel during the surgery. The care of the organ donor is really the care of several patients--the donor and the fortunate recipients of the donated organs--and can afford great personal satisfaction.