• 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.


    Definitions

    Donation 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

    DCDDBDTissue 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

    Phone: (02) 6198 9800

    Eye Bank Donor Coordinator: 0408 370 148

    Phone: (03) 9684 4444

    WANT TO LEARN MORE?

    DonateLife Education Sessions

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