Hospital Partner Education About this newsletter
T
his insert is intended for clinical staff and not for the general public. Please post in a highly visible clinical area such as a break room.
Contact Us For more information or questions, call 913-262-1668, email info@mwtn.org or visit mwtn.org
Follow Us /MidwestTransplantNetwork /MidwestTransplantNetwork /MidwestTransplantNetwork @MWTransplant Midwest Transplant Network
The Difference Between Brain Death and DCD Brain Dead Donor
DCD
A vented, heart-beating patient who has suffered complete and irreversible cessation of the entire brain, including the brain stem
A vented, heart-beating patient who does not meet brain death criteria, and the family has chosen to remove the ventilator and allow their loved one to pass away
Donation after circulatory death (DCD) Donation after circulatory death (DCD) is defined as organ donation in patients who do not meet brain death criteria and are anticipated to reach asystole within 120 minutes of removal of ventilatory support. This timeframe may be extended in specific cases. DCD can only occur after a family has made a firm decision to withdraw mechanical and pharmacological support. These donor heroes will remain at the hospital to recover organs for transplant.
More about DCD: • Prior to shifting to comfort care, MTN will assess potential for organ donation. • If the patient is eligible for organ donation, MTN will collaborate with the hospital care team to determine next steps for the organ donation discussion with the patient’s family. • Following authorization for DCD, the hospital’s attending physician will continue direct care for the patient while collaborating with MTN. • If the patient expires within necessary timeframes after the ventilator is removed, recovery of organs for transplant will occur after pronouncement of circulatory standstill. • DCD is less common than donation after brain death, occurring in about 32% of MTN’s organ donors.
4 • Learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation at mwtn.org
