Organ Donation Flashcards
In Scotland, is organ donation opt-in or opt-out?
Opt-out
List some of the people involved in the decision of organ donation.
Patient
Patient’s family
Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation (SNOD)
ICU staff
Transplant surgical team
Which organs can be donated?
Kidneys
Liver
Heart
Lung
Pancreas
Small bowel
Which tissues can be donated?
Corneas
Heart valves
Tendons
Skin
Bones
Arteries
List some of the exclusion criteria for organ transplantation.
Active invasive cancer in the last three years
Haematological malignancy
Untreated systemic infection
Variant CJD
HIV disease (not infection)
->all this general, more specific for individual organs
What is meant by the duty in inquire?
Conversation had between healthcare professional (SNOD) and patient’s family to ensure the patient wanted organ donation
Adult authorisation (above 16yrs) for organ transplantation can be obtained in which three ways?
- Express (self) authorisation
- Deemed authorisation
- Nearest relative authorisation
What is meant by deemed authorisation?
Just read I didn’t know how to paraphrase this and I’m hungry :)
If a person has not recorded a donation decision in writing, the Act provides that authorisation for donation of their organs and tissue for transplantation may be deemed to have been given, subject to a number of safeguards.
Safeguards:
1. The healthcare professional is able to complete the duty to inquire adequately
2. No evidence of unwillingness to donate
3. The person is in not in an excepted category
4. Transplantation is not of excepted body part or for research
What is done in terms of the authorisation of children?
In children under 12, authorisation must be obtained from the person with parental rights for the child
Children 12-16 can make their own decision but parents should be consulted
What is a pre-death procedure?
Medical procedure carried out for the purpose of facilitating transplantation and is not a procedure that supports the patient’s health.
What is meant when a donor has death by neurological criteria?
Patient has suffered irreversible loss of brain function so they will not regain consciousness or be able to breathe independently
Must be confirmed by neurological testing
What is meant by donation after cardiac death?
When life sustaining therapy is withdrawn and the patients dies
Timing is critical here
Timing is critical as the quality of organs deteriorates quickly due to warm ischaemia.
What is warm ischaemia?
When systolic BP falls below 50mmHg or oxygen sats fall below 70%
Different organs are more vulnerable to warm ischaemia.
How long can kidneys last?
120 mins
Different organs are more vulnerable to warm ischaemia.
How long can the liver last?
30 mins
