Predictors of Organ Donation Among Patients With Brain Death in the Intensive Care Unit

Despite the improved care of potential organ donors with probable brain death (BD) in the intensive care unit (ICU), few epidemiologic and clinical data are available in developing countries.

To evaluate ICU patients with suspected BD aiming to identify factors possibly related to success (organ donation) or failure (nondonation).

Retrospective cohort study, from the patient records of an adult ICU of a Brazilian teaching hospital for 12 months. Data were tabulated, and descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

During the study period, 85 patients with acute neurologic diseases and suspected BD were admitted to the ICU and included for analysis. Of these, there were 9 organ donors (7 liver and 9 kidney donors); 77.7% were men, with a mean age of 39.6 years and admission Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II of 25.5. Two-thirds of the patients were victims of trauma. The mean time between acute neurologic event and organ withdrawal was 269 hours. The main prognostic factors related to the success of organ donation were the maximum serum lactate and creatinine levels during ICU admission.

The main clinical factors correlated with nonevolution for organ donation among ICU patients with clinical suspicion of BD were related to patient severity and organic dysfunction: serum lactate and creatinine level. Clinical care and monitoring are emphasized to improve the efficiency of the donation process.