[Potential organ donors at an Italian intensive care unit].

AIM

To determine evaluate the number and characteristics of the population diagnosed as being cerebrally dead and the reasons why organs were not donated.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Retrospective study from 1.1.1990 to 31.5.1994.

SETTING

Intensive care ward at Arezzo Hospital.

PATIENTS

46 patients diagnosed as being cerebrally dead owing to primary intracranial pathology.

RESULTS

Of the 1256 patients admitted to intensive care, 46 were diagnosed as being cerebrally dead. Five became organ donors. The study examines the reasons why the organs of the remaining patients dwere not donated.

CONCLUSIONS

In spite of the fact that the number of donors corpses was broadly in line with national figures (8 per million inhabitants versus 9.7 for the NITp average and 6 for the national average), it is worth underlining the high percentage of patients (26.8%) for whom it was not possible to identify the reasons why the commission for the ascertainment of cerebral death was not summoned. This emphasises the need for greater commitment in the early identification of cerebral death, the monitoring and maintenance of organ functions in potential donors, and likewise the need for increased clarity in the formulation of statutory requirements regarding cerebral death.