Clinical Resources
Organ Donation
Bendigo Health Emergency Department Aims
“to achieve 100% referral rate for End of Life patients to DonateLife for consideration of organ and/or tissue donation”
Donation Process
- All organ suitable patients must be referred to the ICU Registrar and discussed with Intensivist
- If no bed available in Bendigo, the Director of ICU and Administration on call need to be notified to authorise transfer of patient to Melbourne via ARV
- Do NOT discuss Organ Donation with family during same conversation as End Of Life Conversations – these must be separate
- Discussions will ideally be led by the Intensivist, but may be initiated by Senior ED staff
- If family members bring up Organ Donation, advise this will be considered and refer to ICU.
DefinitionsDonation after Circulatory Death (DCD)
- Circulatory Death defined as “irreversible cessation of circulation of blood in the body of the person”
Donation after Brain Death (DBD)
- Brain Death defined as “irreversible cessation of all function of the brain of the person”
Organs and Tissues Considered for Donation
DCD DBD Tissue Bank (delayed) Heart
Lungs
Liver
Pancreas
Kidneys
Intestine
Heart
Lungs
Liver
Kidneys
Eyes (cornea)
Tendon
Bone
Skin
Heart valves
Priority of Senior Next of Kin (SANOK) For Consent
ADULTS (<18yo) CHILDREN 1. Spouse or de facto, domestic and same sex partners2. Adult son or daughter
3. Parent
4. Brother or Sister
1. Parents
2. Adult brother and sister
3. The Child's Guardian
Indications & Suitability for Organ and Tissue Donation
- Patient must have a non-recoverable condition and family accepting of decision for End of Life Care
- All patients including children <18yo and adults >80yo
DonateLife will discuss medical suitability for patients with the following comorbidities or clinical conditions:
- Active cancer
- Bacterial Infections including sepsis
- Hepatitis B and C
- Multi organ failure
- Receiving high dose inotropes
- On NIV – for end stage respiratory disease/failure
Patients that will be referred to Coroner’s Court
FURTHER INFORMATION
- Bendigo Health Organ Donation Protocol
- DonateLife
- ANZICS – Death and Organ Donation
- ANZICS Statement on Death and Organ Donation v.3.2
- Organ and Tissue Authority
Phone: (02) 6198 9800
Eye Bank Donor Coordinator: 0408 370 148
Phone: (03) 9684 4444
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
DonateLife Education Sessions