Even in the face of the urgent need for transplantable organs,there continues to be a disparity between the number of potentialorgan donors and that of actual donors.1 Reducing this disparityis one means of addressing the current shortage of organs. However,for this strategy to be effective, it is mandatory to retrieveorgans that offer the greatest likelihood of successful outcomesfor the recipients. This strategy necessitates the optimal careof the potential donor, that is, even after brain death hasoccurred.2 In this review we present a structured approach tothe key issues for the clinicians involved . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Status of the Potential Donor and Consent
Medical Management
Cardiovascular Effects
Respiratory Effects
Supportive Care
Source Information
From the Departments of Medicine (K.E.W., B.N.B., J.G.M., D.B.C.), Surgery (A.M.D.), and Anesthesiology (D.B.C.), University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison.
Address reprint requests to Dr. Wood at the Department of Medicine, 600 Highland Ave., Rm. K4/930, Madison, WI 53792-9988, or at kew@medicine.wisc.edu.
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