Factors limiting organ donation in Baden-Württemberg

In the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, the number of deceased donors from whom organs have been recovered has been decreasing over the past several years. We questioned whether changing donor age and/or cause of death (COD) were contributing to this trend.

All potential donors who reported to our regional Baden-Württemberg organ procurement organization were reviewed (2006-2010, n = 1771). Changes in age distribution and COD were analyzed, factors we thought might have affected the conversion from potential to successful organ donation.

Between 2006 and 2010, the annual number of reported cases with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) as the COD decreased from 117 to 65, while the number of deaths from other reasons increased from 264 to 294. Conversion rates were higher in the SAH group (56%) compared with the other reasons group (37%).

Mortality rates are changing in certain devastating brain injuries. This, and other factors, may contribute adversely to organ donation rates.