title: [Application of the donor action program to assess the donating potential of the intensive care unit at the hospital in Kołobrzeg].
abstract: The aim of this work was to assess the donating potential of the Intensive Care Unit in Kolobrzeg and the role of the Donor Action (DA) program in identifying potential donors of tissues and organs (PDTO). On the basis of available clinical data in the MRR computer database of DA, 222 cases of deceased patients were analyzed out of 747 patients treated at this ICU between 1 January 1999 and 30 September 2002. The deceased patients were classified into groups depending on the time when identification of PDTO was finalized. The results relate to the number of potential and actual donors of organs and present reasons for donor loss. On these grounds the donating potential of the ICU was established. It was further deduced that 6-8 effective donors can be identified per year given the number of beds at this ICU. The main reasons for unexploited potential were delayed identification of PDTO and refusal by next of kin. The results were compared with those from a comparable ICU at the hospital in Opole. A questionnaire was given to 71 hospital employees to gather the views and attitudes to organ transplantation of those whose duties and knowledge are crucial to effective donation. The findings were entered into the HAS database of DA. It was concluded that the DA program can be applied at a standard Polish ICU to develop a donation protocol. A wider understanding of DA rules could increase harvesting of organs needed to save patients with end-stage organ insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Z Oddziału Anestczjologii i Intensywncj Terapii Zespołu Opicki Zdrowotnej ul. Lopuskiego 8, 78-100 Kołobrzcg.
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bednarek
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001926:Brain Death; D002102:Cadaver; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018594:Human Body; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000639:trends*; D011044:Poland; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends