Pilot explores organ donation in the ED--challenges raised.
A pilot program for ED organ donation at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)--Presbyterian Hospital is seeking much-needed organs, while maintaining optimal medical care for the living and avoiding potential conflicts of interest. Separate teams are involved with organ donation and with patient care, creating a "firewall" to prevent conflicts of interest. After failed CPR, a minimum of two minutes of no-CPR time is allowed to pass after death is pronounced to be certain there is no occult cardiac activity. Infusions of cold fluids are used to give enough time for the transplant surgeon to arrive and determine if any organs can be procured.
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D010414:Pennsylvania; D010865:Pilot Projects; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement