Standardized protocols increase organ and tissue donation rates in the neurocritical care unit.
The authors tested the effect of uncoupling and removal of the treating physician from organ and tissue donation requests on consent rates for donation in the neurocritical care unit. After a neurointensivist-led policy change, consent rates increased from 23.1 to 36.5% (odds ratio = 1.9, p = 0.01), whereas there was no change in other hospital units. This supports such a policy change and shows a positive effect of a neurointensivist on organ and tissue procurement.
Helms
A K
AK
Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.
Torbey
M T
MT
Hacein-Bey
L
L
Chyba
C
C
Varelas
P N
PN
D001926:Brain Death; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003469:Culture; D006282:Health Personnel; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009042:Motivation; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020458:Third-Party Consent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data