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Donors After Circulatory Death: Theme of Present or a Future? The Research in West Poland
Edyta Skwirczyńska1, Oskar Wróblewski2, Natalia Serwin3
1Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
Insights
Increasing organ donors is critical. Most medical staff surveyed support transplantation, but lack knowledge of organ donation protocols for donors after circulatory death (DCD), highlighting a need for education.
Area of Science:
- Transplantology
- Medical Ethics
- Public Health
Background:
- Organ transplantation is a life-saving treatment for end-stage organ failure.
- Donors after brain death (DBD) account for 95% of organ donors.
- Donors after circulatory death (DCD) represent an underutilized resource.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the awareness and attitudes of medical staff regarding organ donation, particularly from DCDs.
- To identify knowledge gaps concerning organ donation regulations and classifications.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted among 368 medical staff in intensive care and cardiological care units.
- The survey utilized a self-projected questionnaire based on the Hospital Attitude Survey.
- Participants' knowledge of the Maastricht classification and regulations for DCD donation was assessed.
Main Results:
- 98.4% of respondents accept organ transplantation.
- 93.1% were unaware of the Maastricht classification.
- 57.5% incorrectly believed organ retrieval from non-heart-beating donors is permitted in Poland.
- 90% expressed willingness for training on organ donation, with 70% interest in DCD donation specifics.
Conclusions:
- There is high acceptance of transplantation among medical staff.
- Significant knowledge deficits exist regarding DCD donation criteria and regulations.
- Targeted education on DCD donation is crucial to increase organ availability and address the donor-recipient gap.
Abstract:
The most urgent issue in transplantology nowadays is to increase the number of donors as replacement of lungs, heart, and liver in end-stage disease remains the only available method to save patients. Donors after brain death (DBD), these after irreversible cessation of brain function, represent 95% of all donors. On the contrary, donors after circulatory death (DCD), namely donors after irreversible detention of circulation, a group of great potential, is totally unused. The survey was done among 500 people from the medical staff of the intensive care unit and intensive cardiological care where the probability of receiving anonymous donation after circulatory death is the highest, yet only 368 people had completed the survey and their cases were taken into consideration as far as the study was concerned. The survey was conducted in the form of a self-projected questionnaire based on the Hospital Attitude Survey. The study showed that 98.4% of respondents accept the transplant. As many as 93.1% of people did not know the Maastricht classification, and 57.5% claimed that in Poland there is permission to take organs from people with a nonbeating heart. Ninety percent of respondents expressed their willingness to participate in training, and 70% of them were interested in the subject of the training presented in the questionnaire. At a time of such immense need for organs and such a huge disparity in the number of donors and recipients, DCD type of transplantation may be an alternative for patients whose waiting time for donation from a DBD would total a few years.
