title: Analysis of organ donors in the peripartum period.
abstract: This study was a retrospective review of 252 brain-dead potential donors from 1990 to 1996, including 5 organ donors in the peripartum period. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of pregnancy on organ donor management and recipient outcome. Case analysis of 5 pregnant donors identified problems with hemodynamic stability and electrolyte abnormalities, including hypernatremia, hyperchloremia, and hypocalcemia. In addition, blood glucose was frequently elevated. Two donors were treated for diabetes insipidus. All 5 donors produced organs for 20 transplant recipients. Five heart recipients (including 1 heart-lung), 4 liver recipients, 4 kidney recipients, and 4 pancreas-kidney recipients have reported excellent outcomes. The use of organs from brain-dead organ donors in the peripartum period has minimal impact on donor management and recipient outcome.
authors.affiliation: Washington Regional Transplant Consortium, Falls Church, Va., USA.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Suddaby
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Brigham
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Shaver
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001926:Brain Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome