Retrospective Investigation of Brain Death and Organ Donation Cases in a Training and Research Hospital

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to sought retrospectively the brain death and organ donation cases in a training and research hospital between 2009-2018. Methods: The profiles of all cases, the number of cases with brain death and organ donations were evaluated. The number, age, sex, nationality, clinic manifestations, diagnoses of the patients, the status of donation and the reasons of donation failure, if any, were evaluated. Archival records and the Transplantation, Dialysis and Monitoring Systems of Health Ministry (TDIS) program were used for assessments. Results: We found that brain death of 57 patients had been detected and organs of 19 cases (33.3%) had been donated. While 89.4% of the patients (n=51) were male, and 40.3% (n=23) had blood group A. Forty-four (77.2%) patients were in the age group of 20-60 years, and all cases were citizens of the Republic of Turkey. In terms of diagnoses at admission, traumas were the most common diagnosis in 49.1% (n=28) of the cases. Thirty-two (56.2%) cases were hospitalized the intensive care unit of the Anesthesia and Reanimation Clinics, and 39.4% (n=15) of them found organ donation unacceptable because of their religious beliefs. Conclusion: Brain death detection numbers and donation rates are not at the desired level. Education and campaigns should be implemented to increase the awareness of the health personnel and the society, and public spots should be utilized more. More intense activities should be carried out with the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs indicating that donation is not against the religious creeds.