The Anticipated Organ Donation Approach Increases the Number of Organ Donors

Deficiency of organs for transplantation is a significant public health issue. French learned societies accept intensive care unit admission for patients with catastrophic neurological prognosis to optimize organs prior to probable brain death. We evaluated the implementation of a specific ethical care procedure for these patients.

A descriptive before-after study was conducted, comparing the 2009-2012 period to the 2013-2016 period, during which this procedure was applied.

The number of patients increased from 145 to 186 (+28.3%) and the number of harvested organs increased from 323 to 485 (+50.1%). The anticipated organ donation approach was initiated 135 times. Of the 117 meetings with families, 83 (71%) consented to organ donation. Fifty-three (64%) patients were brain dead, and 49 (92%) of these patients had 194 organs harvested.

The anticipated approach increased the number of donors and organs suitable for grafts. The application of a specific protocol for managing untreatable catastrophic neurological patients improved communication between hospital staff and families and respected patient autonomy by offering options for either organ donation or palliative care.