Organ and tissue donation in a regional paediatric intensive care unit: evaluation of practice

Conclusions: All children on end-of-life care should be referred for potential organ donation. Organ donation needs to be seen as a priority for hospitals as a part of routine end-of-life care to help increase referral rates and give families the opportunity to donate. Many paediatric deaths are not referred for consideration of organ donation, despite guidelines stating that this process should be standard of care. Further optimization of referral rates may aid in increasing the number of organs available for donation.What is Known:•Shortage of organs continues to be a national problem.•NICE guidelines state that all patients who are on end-of-life care should have the option of organ donation explored.•Required referral both increases the number of donors and organs donated.What is New:•The process of identifying and referring children for paediatric organ donation.•Identifies that children are still not being referred for organ donation.•Organ donation is still not a priority for hospitals.

Source: European Journal of Pediatrics - February 7, 2018 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research