Emergency department referral for organ donation: More organ donors and more organs per donor

摘要

Background: This study sought to determine whether early referral from the emergency department (ED) would increase the number of organ donors and the number of organs transplanted per donor (OTPD). Methods: This is a retrospective cohort analysis of all patients referred to a single organ procurement organization for a period of 60 months. Results: Patients referred for organ donation evaluation from the ED were more likely to become organ donors than patients referred from the intensive care unit (19.3% vs 5.2%, P <.001). ED referrals had a greater number of OTPD than those referred from the intensive care unit (mean 3.79 vs 3.16, P =.024), even after adjusting for the higher proportion of ED referrals who were trauma patients (P =.001). Conclusions: Referral for organ donation from the ED is associated with an increased likelihood of organ recovery and with an increased number of OTPD.