title: Fatal gunshot wounds to the head: a critical appraisal of organ donation rates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients sustaining fatal gunshot wounds to the head are often young, without associated comorbidities, and are potentially ideal transplantation candidates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-year review of a level I trauma center's prospective database was performed for all patients sustaining fatal gunshot wounds to the head. Demographic, physiologic, anatomic, and laboratory variables were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight patients were identified, of whom 10 (14.7%) were organ donors. Of 25 admitted to the intensive care unit who eventually did not become donors, 15 (60%) were due to lack of consent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite frequent intensive care unit admissions, organ donation is infrequent following fatal gunshot wounds to the head, primarily because of lack of consent. Improved communication with next of kin could improve organ recovery and reduce futile care in this group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University Medical School, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. abrody@dmc.org
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: Jeffry L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kashuk
authors.forename: Ernest E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beauchamp
authors.forename: Carlton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Walter L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Biffl
authors.forename: C Clay
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Burlew
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauaia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001926:Brain Death / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D020458:Third-Party Consent; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology