A pilot program of multiple cadaver organ and tissue retrieval.
A one year pilot project conducted at a 2,000 bed medical center involved a unique approach to the retrieval from cadavers of multiple viable organs and tissues. Aspects of the program included a special unit for sterile evaluation and storage of tissue, a computerized registry of potential donors, a nurse to coordinate and expedite retrieval, and a retrospective chart review to define the incidence and location of potential cadaver donors. There were requests for 121 tissues by 39 investigators. Eleven different tissues were needed within 4 hours of death. Forty-two percent of individuals contacted directly enlisted in the donor registry, three of whom were identified on the computer at the time of death. A five-fold increase in cadaver donor evaluation referrals occurred, and one third of referrals resulted in viable tissue retrieval. A review of 728 deaths indicated that 45% could have been potential eye donors, 27% pancreas donors and 2.5% kidney donors. A coordinated program to retrieve multiple viable organs and tissues for transplantation and research appeared to be effective in this initial pilot study.
D002102:Cadaver; D003201:Computers; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education; D008923:Missouri; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012042:Registries; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014021:Tissue Preservation