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Medical Students for Tissue Procurement, a 10-Year Experience in a Large University Hospital: An Exportable Model?
A Rodríguez1, A Sandiumenge1, N Masnou2
1Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
Transplantation Proceedings
|November 1, 2015
Summary
Trained medical students successfully managed tissue procurement, achieving a high donation rate over ten years. This program demonstrated a sustainable model for increasing tissue donation in a university hospital setting.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Transplantation Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Medical students can be trained to perform tissue procurement.
- A 10-year study was conducted in a university hospital to evaluate this model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe tissue procurement activity conducted by trained medical students over a decade.
- To assess the success and sustainability of a student-led tissue donation program.
Main Methods:
- Third to sixth-year medical students were trained as in-hospital Tissue Coordinators (Tc).
- Tc performed 24/7 tissue procurement, including family approach and retrieval logistics.
- Students assisted senior Transplant Coordinators in organ procurement activities.
Main Results:
- Over 18,900 deaths were evaluated, with 21% identified as potential tissue donors.
- Family refusal was the primary reason for conversion failure (66%).
- Significant tissue yields included 2814 corneal units, 225 skin donations, and 327 musculoskeletal donations.
Conclusions:
- A tissue donation program managed by trained medical students achieved high and sustainable donation rates.
- The program demonstrated the effectiveness of student involvement in tissue procurement within a large university hospital.
